Energy Development Impacts on State Roadways: A Review of DOT Policies, Programs and Practices across Eight States

The objective of this project was to gain first-hand perspectives from state department of transportation (DOT) officials about the ways that intensive energy development has impacted state roadways, what is and is not being done to address those impacts, and the outcomes of policies and programs on states’ ability to deal with these challenges. This project covered eight states—Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming—and included a policy and literature review of energy development revenue and transportation funding programs, and over 40 interviews with DOT officials in these states. While these are not the only states with energy development activity, they have experienced substantial recent growth in intensiveness of crude oil extraction, natural gas production wells, and/or utility-grade wind turbine developments. These states represent a range of geographic locations, histories, infrastructures, resources, populations, and philosophies.