The 1962 Highway Act: A Study in Artful Interpretation

Abstract

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962 required that after July 1, 1965, all federally aided highway projects in metropolitan areas must be based on a “cooperative, comprehensive, and continuing planning process.” This article examines how the federal Bureau of Public Roads interpreted the planning requirement during the three years following its enactment and immediately after the July 1, 1965 deadline. Instead of urban planning interests and needs, Bureau interpretations of the law were responsive to the concerns of state highway departments which sought (1) to maintain their control of highway planning and decision-making in the states and (2) to avoid additional delays in interstate highway construction schedules. However, enactment of the planning requirement, along with events before and since its passage, indicate that certain innovative forces which are now at work may contribute to more basic reforms in future highway planning programs.