Congressional Research Service: Federal Aid to Roads and Highways Since the 18th Century: A Legislative History (CRS Report R42140, January 6, 2012)

The federal government has provided aid for roads and highways since the establishment of the United States in 1789. This report comprises a brief history of such aid, detailing some precedent setters and more recent funding through the Highway Trust Fund, which was created in 1956. *** With over 900 professional researchers, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) is Congress’s nonpartisan think tank and produces over 3,000 reports and studies per year with a budget of over $100 million. CRS employees include lawyers, economists, reference librarians, and scientists. CRS reports are highly regarded as in-depth, accurate, objective, and timely. They provide valuable insight to the decisions made by Congress, and are excellent sources for determining Congressional considerations during the months after they are released. CRS reports are not routinely made available to the public, making them some of the most elusive information products, highly coveted by researchers in business, the media, and academia.