Financing low-volume roads, usually the responsibility of counties, towns, or townships, recently has been a subject of interest andsome concern for state and local policymakers. Low-volume roads andbridges represent the main connection between residents in unincorporated areas and essential public services, such as ambulances and fire trucks. In recent years, however, the process of financing the off-system transportation network has changed, with local resources becoming a greater share of the overall financing system. The condition of the rural transportation network is examined on the basis of amail survey of county highway officials. Financing arrangements also are reviewed, with special attention paid to the growing reliance on local resources in the financing arrangements. Finally, options available to local highway officials for meeting their perceived needs are examined. According to survey respondents, the condition of low-volume roads and bridges needs attention and repair of deficiencies may require additional funding. Many respondents report that budgets are inadequate to provide the services that they consider necessary. Although recent population trends have rendered some of the local mileage no longer economically feasible, incentive remains small for either residents or local officials to remove road mileage from the inventory. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1291, Fifth international conference on low-volume roads, may 19-23, 1991, raleigh, north carolina, volume 1.
Abstract