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Highway Infrastructure: Federal-State Partnership Produces Benefits and Poses Oversight Risks

GAO-12-474 Published: Apr 26, 2012. Publicly Released: May 29, 2012.
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Highlights

What GAO Found

Over the years, the federal-aid highway program has expanded to encompass broader goals, more responsibilities, and a variety of approaches. As the program grew more complex, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) oversight role also expanded, while its resources have not kept pace. As GAO has reported, this growth occurred without a well-defined overall vision of evident national interests and the federal role in achieving them. GAO has recommended Congress consider restructuring federal surface transportation programs, and for this and other reasons, funding surface transportation remains on GAO’s high-risk list.

FHWA benefits from using recognized partnership practices to advance the federal-aid highway program and conduct program oversight—such as clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between FHWA and its state partners and formal and informal conflict resolution—that are recognized as leading practices. FHWA’s partnership approach allows it to proactively identify issues before they become problems, achieve cost savings, and gain states’ commitment to improve their processes.

FHWA’s partnership approach also poses risks. We observed cases where FHWA was lax in its oversight or reluctant to take corrective action to bring states back into compliance with federal requirements, potentially resulting in improper or ineffective use of federal funds. For example, while FHWA has made it a national priority to recoup funds from inactive highway projects—projects that have not expended funds for over 1 year—FHWA officials in three states we visited were reluctant to do so because of concerns about harming their partnership with the state. In other cases, FHWA has shown a lack of independence in decisions, putting its partners’ interests above federal interests. For example, FHWA allowed two states to retain unused emergency relief allocations to fund new emergencies, despite FHWA’s policy that these funds are made available to other states with potentially higher-priority emergencies. In some instances, FHWA became actively and closely involved in implementing solutions to state problems—this can create a conflict when FHWA later must approve or review the effectiveness of those solutions.

If proposals for a performance-based highway program are adopted, FHWA would have to work with states to develop measures and take corrective action if states do not meet them. FHWA’s partnership could help states develop measures, but it would need to mitigate the risks posed by its partnership to ensure corrective action was effective when needed. The fundamental reexamination of surface transportation programs, including the highway program, that GAO previously recommended presents an opportunity to narrow FHWA’s responsibilities so that it is better equipped to transition to a performance-based system. GAO identified areas where national interests may be less evident but where FHWA expends considerable time and resources—areas where devolving responsibilities to the states may be appropriate.

Why GAO Did This Study

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides about $40 billion to the states annually to build and maintain highways and bridges through the federal-aid highway program. While this program has grown and changed over time, the federal-state relationship has been consistently one of “partnership” since 1916. DOT’s FHWA has offices in all 50 states that have developed close working relationships with states. Legislation approved by the Senate in March 2012 would establish a more performance-based highway program, introducing performance measures for highways and bridges and requiring FHWA to monitor states’ progress in meeting those measures. As requested, GAO examined (1) how the federal-aid highway program and FHWA’s oversight have changed over time; (2) the extent to which FHWA’s partnership approach produces benefits; (3) the extent to which FHWA’s partnership approach poses risks; and (4) how FHWA’s partnership with state DOTs could affect a transition toward a performance-based highway program. To do this work, GAO conducted site visits and a survey, reviewed relevant documentation, and interviewed FHWA and state officials.

Recommendations

Congress should consider restructuring federal surface transportation programs. Based on GAO’s review, there may be areas where national interests are less evident and where opportunities exist to narrow FHWA’s responsibilities. Also, DOT should address the risks posed by its partnership approach. DOT generally agreed with the recommendation.

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
As we have previously recommended, Congress should consider reexamining and refocusing surface transportation programs, including establishing well-defined goals with direct links to identified federal interests and roles. Based on this review, there may be areas where national interests are less evident and where Congress may wish to consider narrowing FHWA's responsibilities.
Open
In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. No. 117-58) was enacted to reauthorize surface transportation programs, among other actions. In doing so, Congress generally increased the number of programs FHWA administers, which include four new formula grant programs and a number of new grant discretionary programs. As of March 2024, Congress has not taken any additional action in this area. GAO will continue to monitor congressional action in this area.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should direct the FHWA Administrator to develop a strategy based on the National Review Team model to mitigate the risks associated with its partnering approach with state DOTs, while maintaining the strengths that the partnership approach brings to the program. This strategy should address existing risks and, if Congress directs FHWA to move to a performance-based system, partnering risks that could affect the successful implementation of such a system.
Closed – Implemented
In 2012, GAO reported that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) benefits from using recognized partnership practices to advance the federal-aid highway program and to conduct program oversight. FHWA's partnership approach allows it to proactively identify issues before they become problems, achieve cost savings, and gain states' commitment to improve their processes. GAO also noted that FHWA had good oversight practices that complemented its partnership, for example, by using an independent, third party review by National Review Team (NRT) during the implementation of the Recovery Act. However, FHWA's partnership approach also poses risks. We observed cases where FHWA was lax in its oversight or reluctant to take corrective action to bring states back into compliance with federal requirements, potentially resulting in improper or ineffective use of federal funds. In other cases, FHWA has shown a lack of independence in decisions, putting its partners' interests above federal interests. GAO reported that, given that partnership produces benefits, the solution does not lie with eliminating FHWA's partnership approach. Rather, a strategy built around leveraging the strengths of the partnership approach while managing its risks could provide a better way for FHWA to verify the states' use of federal funds. Therefore, GAO recommended that the Secretary of Transportation direct the FHWA Administrator to develop a strategy based on the NRT model to mitigate the risks associated with its partnering approach. In March 2014, FHWA announced an enhanced risk-based approach to its stewardship and oversight of the federal-aid highway program. This approach included adapting the NRT model by establishing data-driven compliance assessments, centrally coordinated by an independent team to ensure transparency and consistency. Additionally, FHWA's approach incorporates enhanced oversight of projects of elevated risk using a consistent set of criteria. While not explicitly targeting the risks of partnership with the states, FHWA's approach addresses the overall intent of the recommendation by enhancing oversight of the federal-aid highway program through an independent team's role in compliance reviews as well as risk-based project oversight. As a result, this approach has the potential to be an effective vehicle to mitigate risks associated with partnering between FHWA division offices and state DOTs.

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Topics

Public roads or highwaysConstructionFederal-aid highway programFederal fundsPublic officialsEconomic stimulusEmergency reliefBridgesMaintenanceBidder responsibility