Principal Investigator: James Kenah

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to compile, analyze, and report State motor‐fuel, motor‐vehicle, driver license, motor‐carrier data, and highway finance data associated with expenditures by State and local governments. In 2018, the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University (RU‐VTC) developed new data collection and analysis methods and procedures for collecting and analyzing local government roadway revenue and spending data in New Jersey. These data, which included revenue and expenditures reported on FY 2015 municipal and county financial audit reports, were used to complete the FHWA Local Highway Finance Report (FHWA Form 536), which must be completed on at least a biennial basis. The same method was applied again in 2021 and 2023 to provide estimates for FHWA Form 536.

The objectives of this project are to: 1) utilize the previously developed methods and procedures to estimate local government revenue and expenditures using data reported in FY 2022 or FY2023 financial audit reports (depending on availability) from a sample of New Jersey municipalities and counties; and 2) complete Form FHWA 536 so it can be submitted by NJDOT in accordance with FHWA reporting requirements

The work products derived from this research project will provide insights into local government expenditures and revenues related to roadway construction, operation, and maintenance in New Jersey and will allow NJDOT to remain in compliance with FHWA data reporting requirements.