Abstract
Road financing in the United States has undergone radical changes since the nation's inception in 1776. From a beginning characterized by reliance on self-help, local government and private provision, the emergence of the automobile in the 20th century was associated with the rapid expansion of public financing, mostly at the state and county levels. The passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act in 1956 resulted in a major role for federal financing, which enabled the Interstate Highway System to be rapidly completed. Following the completion of the Interstate System, the federal role in road financing is unclear. Congress has tabled two proposals for radical change and will review the situation in 1997. (A)