Future Highways and Urban Growth #270070

In 1956, the Congress of the United States authorized a long-term program of expanded highway construction, financed through special federal taxes paid by motor vehicle owners. The program is administered through the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, which has supervised all federal-aid highway projects since 1916.<br><br>The new program will span a period of 16 years (fiscal 1957-72). Its objective is to provide increased financial assistance to state and local highway departments in the construction of major urban and rural traffic routes to standards of safety and capacity needed for present and future motor traffic volumes.<br><br>A key element of this expanded road program is the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways - a nationally connected 41,000-mile network of urban and rural freeway routes.