FISCAL PLANNING AND HIGHWAY PROGRAMMING; THE PENNSYLVANIA RESPONSE TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Many states face a changed era of highway programming and administration, an era characterized by a highly uncertain and pessimistic outlook for fiscal resources, escalating costs, and mounting environmental and other operational constraints. This paper discussees this changing environment in Pennsylvania and consequent developments in the state's highway program and programming process and relates them to trends in other states. Major issues described include the forecasting of fiscal resources, development and delineation of program alternatives, recognition and resolution of trade-offs among highway program elements (for example, capital versus maintenance efforts), and programmatic allocation and adminsitration of capital investments. /Author/