laws in this regard could be serious obstacles to the program. Likewise the lack of adequate laws to control access in some States could nullify the program. It must be expected that legislatures in those States requiring modification of their statutes will take prompt action to remedy the situation.
It is recommended also that for the early improvement of the interstate system and its connecting urban arterials, provision be made by the Congress for exercise of the Federal right of eminent domain in cases where this is necessary, and is requested by the State, similar to that authority now contained in the Federal-Aid Highway Act as related to the program of access roads for the national defense.
The various agencies concerned with highway administrative research should concentrate early effort to development of the needed legislation whereby States and other agencies may jointly participate in the most effective manner in building the needed highway improvements being recommended herein. It might be pointed out that failure to do this may seriously delay and jeopardize a State opportunity to receive the very substantial Federal aid proposed herein for projects on the interstate system.
Utilities and other interested parties appeared before the Committee to point out the huge costs which they would face in the relocation of utilities in the event the program is adopted. They urged that the Federal Government bear the cost of such relocation. Present estimates include only those right-of-way costs which must be assumed under the laws of the several States and do not contain funds for this purpose. The Committee has not revised these estimates to meet the views thus presented nor does it make any specific recommendation in this proposal which is, of course, far reaching in its effects. It is understood that it is a broad policy matter already receiving the attention and consideration of the Congress.
VII. Conclusion
The Committee in arriving at its conclusions has sought the views and recommendations of many representative agencies in our economy, of Federal and local government, and of individuals with outstanding experience in highway development. It has found a preponderant opinion that our present highway system is inadequate for existing traffic, that improvements are not keeping pace with increasing traffic, and that the cost of an inadequate system is high not only in wear and tear on the automobile but also in accidents and loss of life.
At present, approximately $47 billion is expected to be spent on highway improvement during the next 10 years as compared with $101 billion needed to modernize our highway system. The Committee believes that about half of this deficit of $54 billion should be assumed by the Federal Government. The half which represents the cost of a fully modernized network of highways connecting our most important cities, known as the national system of interstate highways, together with important feeder routes in congested population areas can be fully justified as a Federal responsibility due to the value of the system to the national economy as a whole, to interstate commerce, to safety, and to national and civil defense. The remainder of the program should continue either as a joint Federal-State respon-
