Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems. Topic 47-10. Synthesis on: Resource Allocation of Available Funding to Programs of Work

Transportation Commissions, chief executive officers (CEOs), and officials of State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) struggle with resource allocation and funding between the multitudes of programs of work. Determinations of program value and benefit cost (with great variation among states) are generally tied to strategic goals of the agency. Adequate program level evaluations for distribution of available funding across, as well as within, modes are not well documented. Efforts to make distributions among the programs politically realistic and take into consideration the internal and external customers are sometimes considered to be lacking. The purpose of this synthesis to document how state agencies determine resource allocation to different programs of work (not the project selection process within the programs). This synthesis will be beneficial to all transportation planning officials and staff in responding to the fundamental issues of resource allocation. Assessment of available techniques, tools, and data can be used to enable a more adequate program level evaluation of funding distribution. This synthesis will include a literature review and a survey of state departments of transportation (DOTs) and Canadian ministries of transportation. International agencies' experience will be reviewed as available. From the results of the survey, a minimum of 3 agencies will be selected and case examples of their practices will be shared. Lessons learned and gaps in information will also be covered. Information gathered will include, but not be limited to the following:(1) Both competitive and non-scientific processes currently used by DOTs in their funding distributions; (2) How decisions are made for resource distribution between rural and metro areas; (3) Alternatives for data use in trial distribution equations; (4) Available models and data systems to assist in distribution between programs; (5) Possible use of performance measures to assist in distribution between the programs of work; and (6) Previously developed research on multi-modal tradeoffs that could be useful.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3962
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $45000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  20-05, Topic 47-10

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 225
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Vlasak, Donna

• Start Date: 20150701
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 39646

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Financing; Literature reviews; Metropolitan areas; Performance measurement; Resource allocation; Rural areas; State departments of transportation; Surveys
• Identifier Terms: Canadian Ministry of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01562859
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 20-05, Topic 47-10
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 13 2015 1:00AM