2004 Conditions and Performance: Part 1

Part I Description of the Current System

Introduction

Chapters 1 through 6 are designed to provide a broad overview of the current status of the Nation's highway and transit systems, as well as to describe historic trends. These retrospective analyses serve as a point of departure for the prospective analyses contained in Part II and other sections of the report.

Chapter 1, The Role of Highways and Transit,, provides a broad overview of the functions served by the Nation's highways and transit systems. The basic concepts introduced here are expanded upon in other chapters of the report.

Chapter 2, System Characteristics, describes the extent of the Nation's highways, bridges, and transit systems, and provides information on the usage of these systems.

Chapter 3, System Conditions, describes the current physical condition of the Nation's highways, bridges, and transit systems and how the overall physical condition of this infrastructure has changed in recent years.

Chapter 4, Operational Performance, analyzes how well the highway and transit infrastructure has performed in accommodating increasing demand for travel.

Chapter 5, Safety Performance, describes the safety performance of highways and transit systems.

Chapter 6, Finance, describes the levels and types of highway and transit expenditures made by Federal, State, and local governments and identifies the sources of revenue that support these programs.