It is desirable to emphasize that the surfaces and pavements on the sections of existing highway involved in these estimates will probably be in absolute need of replacement by the dates indicated. They must and will be replaced in some manner as soon as possible after these dates, if economic and other conditions permit.
The Committee has at its disposal no data that will permit for urban sections of the system an appraisal of minimum construction needs similar to the foregoing estimate for rural sections. It must be recognized, however, that the pavements of major city streets are accumulating replacement needs in the same manner as the surfaces of rural roads, and that the meeting of these needs is for the same reasons at present deferred but will be taken care of as soon as it becomes possible to do so.
Planning the Construction of the Interregional System
If the recommended interregional system is not officially designated and the proposed standards accepted—if, in other words, the relation of the sections of existing highway to a particular system of interregional routes is not recognized—before the existing obsolescent surfaces and pavements are renewed, it is probable that the reconstruction will be planned and carried out on locations and in a manner inconsistent with an eventual adequate development of the interregional system. This, if it should occur, would constitute a regrettable misapplication of available highway revenues.
URGENCY FOR DESIGNATING AND PLANNING THE SYSTEM
It is highly important, therefore, that decisions in regard to the designation of the interregional system and standards for its development be reached and generally accepted as early as possible. If adequate plans and rights-of-way are to be ready in time to give prompt employment when the employment need is greatest after the present war, there is indeed no time to spare in reaching the essential preparatory decisions.
The same urgency applies to the planning of city streets which would form a part of an interregional system, because as soon as it becomes possible to do so, the reconstruction needs of these streets will also be met in some manner. Most probably the manner adopted will be a simple reconstruction of existing pavements in most cases, unless a plan is agreed upon in advance for provision of the more ample facilities which all the facts adduced in this report show to be in the highest degree necessary. .
The planning of these city facilities is no simple task. It is time-consuming. It requires the most careful study, the most difficult adjustments, the most complicated and expensive right-of-way acquisitions, the utmost of multilateral agreement between the various official bodies and interests concerned.
The essential prearrangements should be proceeding now. It will be lamentable indeed if, for want of understanding and preplanning, it is found impossible to include in an early post-war program of public works, many of these badly needed improvements of city transportation systems.
