B836: Financing Rural Roads and Bridges in the Northern New England States

Authors

Steven C. Deller
John M. Halstead

Files

Description

Although general information pertaining to the quantity and quality of rural infrastructure across the nation is available in a patchwork of studies, information specific to New England is lacking. The lack of information related to the most important rural infrastructure, the local road and bridge system, is particularly disturbing. The local road system is of vital importance to rural residents and businesses. This system provides links between rural residents and employment opportunities, shopping districts, and health care facilities, in addition to the links it provides rural businesses with markets. Because of the concern for the deteriorating condition of the local road system and the financial difficulties facing the local governments vested with the responsibility for maintaining and repairing the local road system, the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development authorized this study of the local road system in the three states composing northern New England: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Primary information was gathered through mail survey of town road officials. The study was designed to complement other studies of the local road network in other parts of the U.S. The study focuses on financing patterns and the condition of the existing local road network. Special attention is paid to the management practices followed in maintaining the local road network in an attempt to assess the need for improving managerial practices, abilities, and institutional arrangements. Specific recommendations for improving the delivery of transportation services are provided in the summary of the report

Document Type

Article

ISSN

073-9458

Rights and Access Note

Rights assessment remains the responsibility of the researcher. No known restrictions on publication

Volume

836

Publication Date

10-1991

Publisher

Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station

City

Orono

Keywords

bridges, roads, New England

Disciplines

Infrastructure

Recommended Citation

Deller. S.C., and J.M. Halstead. 1991. Financing rural roads and bridges in the northern New England states. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 836.