Federal Transportation Funding Utilization by States and Strategies to Maximize Efficient and Effective Use

Federal requirements translate into higher project delivery costs compared to when state departments of transportation (DOT) use non-federal funds for projects. As a result, the share of federal versus non-federal investments of total national transportation investments may be less. To maximize federal funding impact and improve investment strategies among state DOTs and other recipients, an inventory and analysis of best practices is needed. This inventory would assist state DOTs with implementation of the next transportation reauthorization. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to scan and analyze practices by state DOTs and partners that maximize the return on investment of federal transportation funds. Practices may include strategic program and project prioritization processes, aligning federal and state priorities for federal discretionary grants, or coordination efforts among states and partners through fund source swaps (federal for state) or other means to better align the use of federal funds.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6012

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $250,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  20-24(156)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

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

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Wadsworth, Trey

• Start Date: 20260323
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Federal assistance programs; Project management; Return on investment; State departments of transportation; Strategic planning
• Subject Areas: Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01979239
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 20-24(156)
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Feb 9 2026 8:44PM