Questions and Answers

Q. Did the DOT further analyze the $67.2 billion in needs?

A: Yes, the Iowa DOT worked with city and county officials to identify those improvements that would provide the greatest benefit to preservation of the system, as well as those improvements that would provide the greatest economic development opportunities. The total needs were evaluated based on minimum thresholds for preservation of the system and then on the economic benefits of different types of improvements on roads with different traffic levels.

The study prioritized the needs into six categories based on a process established during the last legislatively mandated review of future needs and RUTF revenues in 1988. The process involves assigning needs based on a general hierarchy to first maintain, then preserve, expand, and finally modernize the public roadway system. The three highest priority categories of needs cover maintenance, preservation and high return-on-investment needs.