Allocation and Apportionment of Highway Funds

If the highway systems are to provide a continuing high level of service, it is essential that first priority for funds be given to the needs of those systems which best serve that interest, and the fund distribution to a system ultimately should achieve a uniform level of service on that system in all states. A fund distribution methodology is presented that can be used to achieve these objectives. The allocation of funds to systems is directed to maximizing the weighted average of the relative proportions of system needs that are funded. Factors affecting is distribution that are treated as variables are: (1) system needs; (2) system weights based on system volume; (3) available federal funds; and (4) state matching ratios. Apportionment formulas with coefficients for population, systems miles, and vehicle registration are used for the distribution of system funds to the states.