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112 unobligated balance of previously apportioned Federal-aid highway funds not to exceed its Federal-aid pro rata part of a hypothetical national total of $50,000,000 (see table 20), such amounts to be matched with State funds as required by the Federal Highway Act.

Not all of the funds thus authorized to be expended for post-war planning can be used for that purpose, for various reasons; and as yet the intentions of the States regarding such use of the funds authorized have not been determined to the extent necessary to permit an estimate of the amount that will probably be devoted to the authorized planning purpose. The Committee believes, however, that the State highway departments generally have a keen appreciation of the necessity to prepare thoroughly for a prompt resumption of highway construction after the war, and expects, therefore, that a substantial part of the additional Federal funds released for planning, with essential State-matching funds, will be used in most States for the intended purpose. In some States it is probable that the highway departments will prefer to reserve the unobligated Federal funds for construction and employ State funds only for advance planning purposes. But, in either case, it is believed that the recent additional provision will result in a large and prompt increase in the expenditure for post-war planning.

The Committee advocates that a principal part of such increased planning effort should be devoted to the planning of improvements conforming substantially to the standards herein proposed on the recommended interregional highway system.