•  Budgets : 78% of transportation agencies surveyed observed that interstate maintenance budgets are insufficient, with 38% of those agencies reporting “significantly insufficient” budgets.

•  State Funding vs. Federal Funding: 75% of the surveyed agencies reported that state funding sources account for 90% or more of the interstate maintenance budget with minimal federal funding support (relative to maintenance). On the other hand, two participants cited that federal funding accounted for 90% of the FY2007 interstate maintenance budget.

•  Formula-based Grants: Only one responding state transportation agency indicated that federal formula-based allocation of funds is “advantageous to interstate maintenance,” while the other participants all cited that formula-based funds are “neither advantageous nor disadvantageous to interstate maintenance.”

•  Gas Tax: As it pertains to the gas tax and the Federal Highway Trust Fund, participants indicated a wide range of experiences regarding funding contributions during FY 2007. Three agencies indicated that more than 70% of their respective state's funding contribution to the fund was derived from gas taxes with one participant reporting that 90% of the state's contribution was collected from gas taxes.

•  Federal Highway Trust Fund: 44% of the surveyed agencies were “recipient” states; 33% were “donor” states and 11% were “neutral.” A recipient state receives more funds than the state contributes to the Highway Trust fund whereas donor states contribute more than they receive. Neutral states receive approximately one dollar for every dollar contributed.

•  Manuals & Guidelines: All participants reported using a combination of state and federal maintenance manuals and guidelines; half of the states also reported using AASHTO guidelines. None of the agencies reported using one source of manuals or guidelines exclusively.

•  Outsourcing: Half of the agencies reported outsourcing 10% or less of those states' interstate maintenance work. One agency reported outsourcing approximately 20% of its interstate maintenance work, while the remaining participants outsourced 80% or more maintenance work to third party contractors.

•  Asset Management: The majority of the participating state DOTs cited that asset management “helps prioritize the use of available funds” and enables their respective agencies “to explain application of funds to stakeholders and the public.” Only one participating agency indicated that it currently does not have an asset management program in place.

•  Interstate Coordination: Most of the agencies reported some form of highway maintenance coordination or cooperation with contiguous states, in particular as it relates to bridges connecting states.

For more information on this survey or other surveys conducted by FKA, please contact us at fka@fkassociates.com.

FKA would like to recognize the time and efforts of key individuals at several transportation agencies including the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTRANS).