Public Roads, Vol. 57, No. 3

McComb, Richard A; Larson, Daniel F; Colucci, Louis; Bryant, Robert V; DaSilva, Luis F; Confre, Juan A; Alicandri, Elizabeth; Churilla, Charles J.; Finch, Ginny; Thirumalai, K; Tuggle, Donald · 1994 · ROSA P / United States. Government Printing Office

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Summary

This document is an issue of *Public Roads* (Vol. 57, No. 3, Winter 1994), a quarterly publication of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). It serves as an informational and advisory report detailing major policy developments, research initiatives, and technological evaluations within the U.S. highway sector. The issue focuses primarily on the establishment of the National Highway System (NHS) and the implementation of the Applied Research and Technology (ART) Program to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies. The first major section outlines the NHS, a proposal submitted to Congress in December 1993 under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991. The NHS is designed to serve as the backbone of the national transportation network, comprising approximately 159,000 miles of roads, which represents only 4% of public roads but carries over 40% of highway traffic. The system consists of four required components: the Interstate Highway System (45,376 miles), the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) for military mobility (15,668 miles), major STRAHNET connectors (1,890 miles), and 21 congressionally designated high-priority corridors (4,506 miles). The remaining mileage includes principal arterials connecting intermodal facilities such as ports, airports, and rail terminals. The report emphasizes that the NHS aims to improve economic efficiency, reduce congestion costs estimated at $40 billion annually, and enhance international trade links with Canada and Mexico under NAFTA. The second major section details the ART Program, authorized by ISTEA to promote technologies that improve durability, safety, and efficiency. The program is structured around three elements: priority technologies, applied research, and testing and evaluation (T&E). Priority technologies include heated bridge decks, all-weather pavement markings, and thin-bonded overlays. The T&E component is managed through the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC), which opened in January 1994. HITEC serves as a clearinghouse to evaluate prototypes that lack established standards, facilitating peer review and reducing institutional barriers to innovation. The ART guidelines specify that funding covers up to 80% of federal-aid construction costs for "delta costs"—the additional expenses incurred by using new technology compared to conventional methods. Selection criteria for projects prioritize applicability, timeliness, technical quality, and potential return on investment in safety and serviceability. The significance of these initiatives lies in their strategic shift toward targeted infrastructure investment and accelerated technology transfer. By defining the NHS, the FHWA provides a framework for focusing federal funds on high-priority routes, thereby enhancing the reliability of freight and passenger transport. Simultaneously, the ART Program and HITEC address the slow adoption of innovations in the highway industry by providing a structured mechanism for field testing and evaluation. This approach aims to overcome market fragmentation and liability concerns, fostering a more competitive and efficient transportation system capable of meeting 21st-century demands.

Key finding

The proposed National Highway System comprises nearly 159,000 miles of roads that will carry over 40 percent of the nation's highway traffic while representing only four percent of total public road mileage.

Methodology

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