Highway infrastructure  : federal-state partnership produces benefits and poses oversight risks : report to the Ranking Member, Subcommittee on ... and Infrastructure, House of Representatives.

" The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides about $40 billion to the states annually to build and maintain highways and bridges through the federal-aid highway program. While this program has grown and changed over time, the federal-state relationship has been consistently one of partnership since 1916. DOT s FHWA has offices in all 50 states that have developed close working relationships with states. Legislation approved by the Senate in March 2012 would establish a more performance-based highway program, introducing performance measures for highways and bridges and requiring FHWA to monitor states progress in meeting those measures. As requested, GAO examined (1) how the federal-aid highway program and FHWA s oversight have changed over time; (2) the extent to which FHWA s partnership approach produces benefits; (3) the extent to which FHWA s partnership approach poses risks; and (4) how FHWA s partnership with state DOTs could affect a transition toward a performance-based highway program. To do this work, GAO conducted site visits and a survey, reviewed relevant documentation, and interviewed FHWA and state officials. "