In Oct. 2001, spores of the deadly bacterium anthrax were found in mail sent to members of the news media and congressional leaders. In all, 22 people were infected with anthrax and 5 people died, including 2 postal workers. The U.S. Postal Service took a variety of steps to protect people from biohazards in the mail. For ex., it began contracting for the irradiation of mail to recipients at the Congress, the White House, and fed. agencies with specific ZIP Codes (20201 through 20597) in the Wash., D.C., area. This report describes: the vol. of mail irradiated and how the vol. has changed; the cost of irradiating mail and how the cost has changed; and the extent to which irradiation delays mail deliveries and how these delivery delays have changed. Illus.
This report on the uses of and accountability for ARRA funds in selected states and localities focuses on the $48 billion provided to the Dept. of Transport. (DoT) to invest in transport. infrastructure. It also examines the quality of recipients' reports about the jobs created and retained with ARRA transport. funds. This report addresses the: (1) status, use, and outcomes of ARRA transport. funding nationwide and in selected states; (2) actions taken by federal, state, and other agencies to monitor and ensure accountability for those funds; (3) changes in the quality of jobs data reported by ARRA recipients of transport. funds over time; and (4) challenges faced and lessons learned from DoT and recipients. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.
The Highway Account (HA) within the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is the principal means for funding fed. highway programs. It channels about $33 billion in highway user excise taxes annually to states for highway and related spending. Estimated outlays from the HA exceeded estimated receipts throughout the authorization period -- FY 2005 through 2009. Furthermore, actual HA receipts were lower than had been estimated and the HA balance dropped more rapidly than anticipated, approaching zero in Aug. 2008. This statement summarizes work on: (1) the collection and distribution process for the HA of the HTF; (2) options for improving long-term sustainability of the HTF; and (3) mechanisms to help manage HA solvency. Figures.
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. One in four bridges in the United States is either structurally deficient and in need of repair, or functionally obsolete and is not adequate for today's traffic. The Highway Bridge Program (HBP), the primary source of federal funding for bridges, provided about $7 billion to states in fiscal year 2010. This testimony addresses: (1) the current state of the nation's bridges and the impacts of the HBP; and (2) the extent to which the HBP aligns with principles developed to guide the re-examination of surface transportation programs. This testimony is based on prior reports, updated with bridge data and information provided by agency officials. Charts and tables.
The Fed. Transit Admin. (FTA) oversees about $5.5 billion in fed. funds each year to transit agencies serving urban areas (grantee), in part through its triennial review program, which evaluates grantee adherence to fed. requirements at least once every 3 years. It was recommended in a 1998 oversight report that FTA improve the program. This report identifies: (1) the extent to which triennial reviews indicate that grantees meet applicable fed. requirements from FY 2000 through 2008; (2) the strengths and weaknesses of the triennial review process; and (3) FTA's performance measures for the triennial review and the extent to which they meet key attributes of successful performance measures. Includes recommend. Illustrations.
The Highway Account within the Highway Trust Fund is the primary mechanism for funding fed. highway programs. The account -- administered by the Fed. Highway Admin. (FHWA) -- channels about $33 billion in highway user excise taxes annually to states for highway projects. A shortfall in the balance became imminent in Aug. 2008. In Sept., Congress passed legislation to provide $8 billion to replenish the account, but officials anticipate the account could reach a critical stage again in FY 2009. This report: (1) describes the events that led to the decline in the account balance; and (2) identifies potential improvements in mechanisms to manage account solvency. Includes strategies that could be used to better align account outlays and revenues.
Through the statewide transportation planning process, states decide how to spend fed. transportation funds -- almost $46 billion in FY 2009. Draft legislation to reauthorize federal surface transportation legislation would, among other things, revise planning requirements to recognize states' use of rural planning org. (RPO) and require performance measurement. This report examined: (1) states' planning activities and RPOs' satisfaction that rural needs are considered; (2) states' planning challenges; (3) the U.S. Dept. of Transportation's approach to overseeing statewide planning; and (4) states' use of performance measurement and opportunities to make statewide planning more performance based. Tables. This is a print on demand report.
The federal-aid highway program provides $33 billion a year to states for highway projects. The fed. gov¿t. provides funding for and oversees this program, while states largely choose and manage the projects. This report reviewed the Federal Highway Admin.'s (FHWA) implementation of several requirements in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: (1) oversight of states using a risk management approach; (2) efforts to develop minimum standards for estimating project costs, and periodically evaluate states' cost estimating practices; and (3) reviews of states' financial management systems. Also reviews FHWA's policy on presenting an estimate of financing costs in financial plans for major projects. Charts and tables.
To help meet increasing transportation demands, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) created three programs to invest federal funds in national and regional transportation infrastructure. This report provides: (1) an overview of the goals, funding status, and types of projects and activities funded by the three programs; (2) advantages and challenges identified by program stakeholders; and (3) potential program enhancements. The auditor reviewed pertinent federal laws and rules; examined plans for selected projects; conducted site visits; and interviewed officials, stakeholders, and experts. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.
The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) was created in 1956 to finance the construction of the Interstate Highway System. The 2005 SAFETEA-LU Act authorized $244.1 billion over 5 years for highways, highway safety, and public transport. In addition to authorizing funds for construction and maint. of highways and bridges, the act specifies other purposes for which funding may be used, including safety; metro. planning; transit; and transport. enhancement activities, such as trails for transport. purposes, pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes and parking, and related projects. This report provides info. on the amount of HTF monies the DoT agencies obligated for purposes other than construction and maint. of highways and bridges during fiscal years 2004-08.
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