Toward Improved Highway Quality: Lessons from Western Europe

Abstract

Western European roads and highways are of higher quality than corresponding facilities in the United States. To understand the reasons why that situation exists, and to identify actions that could be undertaken to improve American highways, three teams of highway experts visited Europe in the 1990s. The reports of these teams were examined to discern common findings and recommendations, based on (1) the degree to which various factors were addressed by multiple teams; (2) the degree to which the teams independently came to similar conclusions about the factors; and (3) the degree to which the teams provided similar recommendations regarding what should be done in the United States. This information, which was presented at the 1997 ASCE National Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., is relevant to the current debate over reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.