Strategies for Addressing Funding Challenges in Transportation Asset Management

State and local transportation agencies face growing challenges in maintaining assets due to funding uncertainties, rising costs, and increasing system demands. Fuel taxes have historically provided stable funding, but declining revenues have made it harder to sustain long-term investment and asset management plans. Alternative funding mechanisms such as tolling and user-based charges may help but are often difficult to implement and insufficient to close funding gaps. As transportation agencies work to preserve system performance and deliver projects under constrained budgets, there is a growing need for strategies that address both short-term funding uncertainty and long-term financial sustainability. Previous research has examined the impacts of funding instability on transportation planning and project delivery, but additional guidance is needed to help agencies identify effective financial and asset management strategies. The objective of this research is to identify best practices and innovative strategies for addressing funding challenges in transportation asset management. The research will evaluate case studies and develop guidance to help transportation agencies manage funding uncertainties, prioritize investments, and support long-term system preservation.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6060
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $400,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 19-28

• 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:

  Nasri, Arefeh

• Start Date: 20260608
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Best practices; Case studies; Financing; Transportation departments
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992191
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 19-28
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 9 2026 4:04PM