Established Federal-State relationships that required states to create state highway agencies (if they had not already done so) and adopt a federal-aid concept instead of federal construction
The Federal Highway Act of 1921
1921
% complete
First time the federal government was actively involved in maintaining a national highway system
No more than 7% of the roads in any state allowed
Three-sevenths had to be "interstate in character"
Senator Lawrence C. Phipps sponsored the act
Highway Act of 1934
1934
% complete
Revised eligibility requirements of states for federal highway funding: states had to restrict their expenditures of taxes related to "the construction, improvement, and maintenance of highways"
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1936
1936
% complete
Dictated how funding would work (at the time) according to a formula taking into account average population and existing road mileage
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944
1944
% complete
Authorized designation of 40,000 miles of interstate highways connecting all cities with populations above 300,000
Slow construction pace (started in 1947) due to states not being able to reach consensus on funding, priorities and design
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1952
1952
% complete
$25 million from federal government authorized, but not enough for a good system
Still disagreements between states and federal government on whether their priorities should be based upon population, distance, etc.)