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 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

, Washington, January 7, 1958.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.


 * In accordance with the requirements of section 108 (d) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (Public Law 627, 84th Cong.), I am transmitting herewith an estimate of the cost of completing the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in each State and the District of Columbia prepared for the purpose of apportioning Interstate System funds authorized for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1960, 1961, and 1962.

The factors contained in this estimate of costs of construction are derived from analysis and summation of estimates of cost set forth in detail in 49 bound volumes of individual State reports which, although considered a part of this transmittal, are being sent directly to the House of Representatives Public Works Committee hearing room because of their size.

Making an estimate of this magnitude is a complex engineering job and requires exercise of sound judgment in forecasting probable highway needs of each State in the calendar year 1975. The basic elements of the job have been done in the individual State highway departments where there is available the largest collection of needed basic data, skills, and experience bearing on the highway problems of each State. These estimates, uniformly prepared under a common set of guides and engineering standards developed jointly by the Bureau of Public Roads and representatives of the State highway departments, represent the best coordinated judgment in this important matter.

In submitting this estimate I wish to recognize and pay tribute to the State highway departments, all of which have cooperated to the fullest in its preparation. This is but another working example of the fine relationship of cooperative endeavor which has historically characterized the Federal-aid highway program. In executing the program set out in these estimates it is of great importance that this State and Federal partnership be maintained and even strengthened wherever possible.

Although this estimate shows an increase in cost over the amounts authorized by section 108 (b) of the 1956 act, I do not see any need for consideration at the present time of new legislative measures which would add to the income of the highway trust fund. This is the first estimate of a series of five and is made in the early stage of the highway program launched by the 1956 act. As construction of the Interstate System progresses toward completion and as the amount of remaining work correspondingly decreases, future estimates of cost will be made on a broader base of experience and these estimates will III