Investigation of the impacts of rural development on Iowa's secondary road systems.

PDFTech ReportInTrans Report 05-234IHRB report TR-548Rural developmentRural highwaysEconomic analysisGeographic information systemsSecondary roadsIowaIowa. Highway Research BoardTaylor, GarySouleyrette, Reginald R.Albrecht, ChrisIowa State University. Institute for TransportationIowa. Highway Research BoardUS Transportation Collection"Today, many of Iowa\u2019s counties are experiencing an increase in rural development. Two specific types of development were focused onfor this research: rural residential subdivisions and livestock production operations. Rural residential developments are primarily yearroundsingle-family homes, though some are vacation homes. Livestock production in Iowa includes hog, beef, and poultry facilities.These two types of rural development, while obviously very different in nature and incompatible with each other, share one importantcharacteristic: They each generate substantial amounts of new traffic for Iowa\u2019s extensive secondary road system.This research brings together economic, spatial, and legal analysis methods to address the impacts of rural development on thesecondary road system and provide county engineers, county supervisors, and state legislators with guidance in addressing thechallenges associated with this development.