General Resources

The following are links to technical and academic reports and databases regarding funding and financing transportation.

ICF Consulting, Inc., 2012

This survey provides information on state-level public transportation funding, including source of funds, use of funds, and method of distribution provided by representatives in each state's Department of Transportation. The report makes recommendations for improving the existing survey to improve data collection and analysis.

 

National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) and AASHTO Center for Excellence in Project Finance, 2011

This report is a joint production from the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) and AASHTO Center for Excellence in Project Finance. The report analyzes key issues in transportation finance and governance, and provides detailed funding information and resources for all fifty states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

 

The Council of State Governments, 2009

This report analyzes issues and opportunities in sourcing new financing options at the federal and state level. The report draws on the work of two federal commissions, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission and the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. The Council of State Governments is a region-based organization that assists the three branches of state government exchange ideas and solutions for public policy.

 

Cambridge Systematics, Inc., 2007

Completed for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) in 2006, this study estimated the needs and revenues available at all levels of government from 2007 to 2017. The report examines existing and emerging revenue options to close the nation's highway and transit investment deficits. Necessary implementation steps to help secure the needed additional transportation investment on a sustainable basis are also discussed.

 

NCHRP, 2006

This report analyzes state-level data on public transportation funding programs. The report synthesizes data provided by the annual Bureau of Transportation Statistics' Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation and offers ideas on how the survey can be strengthened to foster meaningful analysis by and between states.

 

NCSL, 2006

This report is an overview of the transportation funding landscape for several transportation modes, as well as challenges and opportunities for raising revenue at the state level. The report examines trends among states in pursuing alternative financing mechanisms such at public-private partnerships and includes case studies on alternative funding and financing mechanisms.

 

American Petroleum Institute

This website provides updated information on States' motor fuel tax rates for both gasoline and diesel fuel.

 

Build America Transportation Investment Center

The Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC) Institute: An AASHTO Center for Excellence enhances taxpayer value from transportation investment by promoting public sector capacity building in the analysis, understanding, and use of project finance techniques through a program of training, sharing of best practices, and technical assistance to all State Departments of Transportation and their local partner agencies.

 

Reason Foundation

This report analyses the future of transportation funding through the direct fee approach recommended in the 2010 Simpson-Bowles Report. Through the analysis of current funding problems and applying the principle of user-pay/user-benefit model, the report makes the argument for the application of revenue-based financing for transportation.

 

Texas Transportation Institute

This online guide to transportation funding options is hosted by the Texas Transportation Institute. The guide provides a summary of funding options for all levels of government and key project examples for highway, transit, rail and aviation.