Federal Transportation Policy Reports
Measuring Transportation Investments: The Road to Results
Released by Pew Center on the States and the Rockefeller Foundation
2011
This report
looks at the use of performance measures by states to ensure that they are getting the most from transportation investment choices. Only 13 states are found to be doing a good job, with the remaining states lacking the necessary data and tools to make clear determinations of achievable results. Find out how your state did!
Performance Driven: Achieving Wiser Investment in Transportation
Released by the Bipartisan Policy Center
2011
For years there has been overwhelming evidence that the U.S. is failing to maintain its highways, bridges, and transit systems, and consistently falling short in making the infrastructure investments needed to provide for the long-term needs of our growing population and economy. The recognition that we are under-investing in our transportation systems, however, has run headlong into a political and fiscal environment in which expanding federal expenditures for any purpose is increasingly difficult to discuss, much less to enact. In this context it is arguably more important than ever to ensure that all federal resources directed to transportation—albeit never enough to keep pace with the nation’s vast and growing transportation needs—are invested wisely.
GAO
Proposes Refinement of Alternatives Analysis Process
Released by the General Accounting Office
2005
“Highway
and Transit Investments: Options for Improving Information on Projects'
Benefits and Costs and Increasing Accountability for Results Report”
examines (1) the categories of benefits and costs that can be attributed
to new highway and transit investments and the challenges in measuring
them; (2) how state, local, and regional decision makers consider
the benefits and costs of new highway and transit investments when
comparing alternatives; (3) the extent to which investments meet
their projected outcomes; and (4) options to improve the information
available to decision makers.
GAO
Report on New Starts Transit Program
Released by the General Accounting Office
2003
A report on the federal New Starts transit program
suggests that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) should (1)
change their regulations in order to accurately reflect the level
of federal funding share local transit agencies can expect to see
(this share level has recently changed and that adjustment is not
reflected in FTA’s paperwork); and (2) better assist local
transit agencies in developing data (using travel forecasting models)
that must be submitted to the FTA under a newly implemented ratings
process. The federal New Starts program provides funding for the
construction or extension of a fixed guideway systems (light-rail,
bus rapid transit, etc.) based on cost-effectiveness, alternatives
analysis results and the degree of local financial commitment. The
report, prepared by the Government Accounting Office, also discusses
the potential effects of the fiscal year 2004 budget on New Starts.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
and the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
were provided copies of the report (GAO-03-701), which was written
as part of an annual requirement under the federal surface transportation
law.
FTA
Needs to Better Define and Assess Impact of Certain Policies on
New Starts Program
Released by the General Accounting Office
2004
This
report assesses
the Federal Transit Administration’s policies on New Starts
transit projects. The report, titled “FTA Needs to Better
Define and Assess Impact of Certain Policies on New Starts Program,”
recommends that the FTA make their policies that apply to Full Funding
Grant Agreements more transparent.
Highways and Transit: Leveling the Playing Field in Federal Transportation Policy
Released by The Brookings Institution
2003
Authored by Robert Puentes and Edward Beimborn, this report shows
that despite a number of reforms in the past decade, federal rules
remain stacked against transit, and funding highway projects is
far easier. The report looks at the local funding matches required
for different transportation projects, and offers policy recomendations
for TEA-21 reauthorization.
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