The Congressional Budget Office has regularly published a report that documents trends in public spending for infrastructure. Here, CBO has updated the exhibits featured in that report through 2017. There are six types of transportation and water infrastructure that are paid for largely by the public sector: highways, mass transit and rail, aviation, water transportation, water resources, and water utilities. Federal, state, and local governments spent $441 billion on those types of infrastructure in 2017. That amount equaled about 2.3 percent of gross domestic product. The largest component of that total, $177 billion, went to highways, followed by water utilities and mass transit and rail.

1. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Public Spending on Transportation
and Water Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
October 2018
This publication updates the exhibits in CBO’s report Public Spending on Transportation and Water
Infrastructure, 1956 to 2014 (March 2015), www.cbo.gov/publication/49910.

2. 1
CBO
Public Spending on Transportation
and Water Infrastructure

3. 2
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Bureau of the Census.
a. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
b. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, 2017
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Water
Transportation
Billions of 2017 Dollars
Water Utilitiesa
($113 billion)
Water Resourcesb
($29 billion)
Aviation
($37 billion)
Water Transportation
($10 billion)
Rail
($5 billion)
Highways
($177 billion)
Mass Transit
($70 billion)

4. 3
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
GDP = gross domestic product.
a. Those price indexes for government spending measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build, operate, and maintain transportation and water infrastructure.
b. That price index measures the prices of goods and services that make up the nation’s GDP.
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure Under
Alternative Adjustments for Inflation, 1956 to 2017
441
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars
Based on
Infrastructure-Specific
Price Indexesa
Based on the GDP
Price Indexb

5. 4
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
GDP = gross domestic product.
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure as a
Share of GDP, 1956 to 2017
2.3
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Percentage of GDP

6. 5
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
The Federal Government’s and State and Local Governments’
Shares of Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by
Category of Spending, 2017
Federal
Government:
$72 Billion
(41%)
State and Local
Governments:
$102 Billion
(59%)
Capital
($174 Billion)
Federal
Government:
$27 Billion
(10%)
State and Local
Governments:
$240 Billion
(90%)
Operation and Maintenance
($266 Billion)

7. 6
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
a. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build transportation and water infrastructure.
b. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of goods and services consumed by governments, including materials and other inputs
used to operate and maintain transportation and water infrastructure.
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by
Category of Spending, 1956 to 2017
174
266
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars
Capitala
Operation and Maintenanceb

8. 7
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
Shares of Public Spending for Capital and for the Operation and
Maintenance of Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by Level
of Government, 2017
Capital:
$102 Billion
(30%)
Operation and
Maintenance:
$240 Billion
(70%)
State and Local Governments
($342 Billion)
Capital:
$72 Billion
(73%)
Operation and
Maintenance:
$27 Billion
(27%)
Federal Government
($98 Billion)

9. 8
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build, operate, and maintain transportation and water
infrastructure.
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by
Level of Government, 1956 to 2017
342
98
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars
State and Local Governments
Federal Government

10. 9
CBO
Federal Spending on Transportation
and Water Infrastructure

11. 10
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build, operate, and maintain transportation and water
infrastructure.
Federal Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure,
1956 to 2017
98
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars
2.5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Percentage of Total Federal Spending

12. 11
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
a. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
b. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
Federal Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by
Type of Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
Percent
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Highways
47
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Aviation
17
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Mass Transit and Rail
17
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Transportation
5
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Utilitiesb
4
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Resourcesa
10

13. 12
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
a. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build transportation and water infrastructure.
b. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of goods and services consumed by governments, including materials and other inputs
used to operate and maintain transportation and water infrastructure.
Federal Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by
Category of Spending, 1956 to 2017
72
27
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars
Capitala
Operation and Maintenanceb

14. 13
CBO
State and Local Spending on
Transportation and Water
Infrastructure

15. 14
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
State and local spending is net of federal grants and loan subsidies.
Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build, operate, and maintain transportation and water
infrastructure.
State and Local Spending on Transportation and Water
Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
342
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars

16. 15
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
State and local spending is net of federal grants and loan subsidies.
a. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
b. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
State and Local Spending on Transportation and Water
Infrastructure, by Type of Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
Percent
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Highways
38
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Mass Transit and Rail
17
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Aviation
6
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Transportation
2
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Resourcesa
5
0
25
50
75
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Utilitiesb
32

17. 16
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
State and local spending is net of federal grants and loan subsidies.
a. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of goods and services consumed by governments, including materials and other inputs
used to operate and maintain transportation and water infrastructure.
b. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build transportation and water infrastructure.
State and Local Spending on Transportation and Water
Infrastructure, by Category of Spending, 1956 to 2017
102
240
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
Billions of 2017 Dollars
Operation and Maintenancea
Capitalb

18. 17
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
Federal grants include the value of federal loan subsidies for the purchase of transportation and water infrastructure capital.
Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build, operate, and maintain transportation and water
infrastructure.
State and Local Capital Spending on Transportation and Water
Infrastructure, by Source of Funds, 1956 to 2017
38
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Percentage From Federal Grants
Percent
State and Local
Revenues
Federal Grants
0
50
100
150
200
250
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
By Source
Billions of 2017 Dollars
64
102

19. 18
CBO
Public Spending on Transportation
and Water Infrastructure, by Type of
Infrastructure

20. 19
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
GDP = gross domestic product.
a. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
b. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure as a
Share of GDP, by Type of Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
Percentage of GDP
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Highways
0.9
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Mass Transit and Rail
0.4
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Resourcesa
0.2
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Aviation
0.2
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Transportation
0.1
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Utilitiesb
0.6

21. 20
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
a. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
b. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
Public Spending for Capital and for the Operation and Maintenance
of Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by Type of
Infrastructure, 2017
36%
28%
31%
34%
28%
53%
64%
72%
69%
66%
72%
47%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Water Transportation
Water Resources
Aviation
Mass Transit and Rail
Water Utilities
Highways
Billions of Dollars
a
b
Capital Operation and Maintenance

22. 21
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
a. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build transportation and water infrastructure.
b. Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of goods and services consumed by governments, including materials and other inputs
used to operate and maintain transportation and water infrastructure.
c. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
d. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
Public Spending for Capital and for the Operation and Maintenance
of Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by Type of
Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
Billions of 2017 Dollars
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Highways
Capitala
Operation and Maintenanceb
94
83
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Mass Transit and Rail
49
26
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Aviation
26
11
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Transportation
7
4 0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Resourcesc
21
8 0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Utilitiesd
82
31

23. 22
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.
a. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
b. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
The Federal Government’s and State and Local Governments’
Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by Type of
Infrastructure, 2017
44%
35%
45%
23%
4%
26%
56%
65%
55%
77%
96%
74%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Water Transportation
Water Resources
Aviation
Mass Transit and Rail
Water Utilities
Highways
Billions of Dollars
b
a
Federal State and Local Governments

24. 23
CBO
Source: Congressional Budget Office, using data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Dollar amounts are adjusted to remove the effects of inflation using price indexes for government spending that measure the prices of materials and other inputs used to build, operate, and maintain transportation and water
infrastructure.
a. Includes water containment systems (dams, levees, reservoirs, and watersheds) and sources of freshwater (lakes and rivers).
b. Includes water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.
The Federal Government’s and State and Local Governments’
Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, by Type of
Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017
Billions of 2017 Dollars
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Highways
State and Local
Governments
Federal Government
131
46
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Mass Transit and Rail
17
58
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Aviation
17
20
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Transportation
4
6
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Resourcesa
10
19
0
50
100
150
1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016
Water Utilitiesb
4
109

25. 24
CBO
The Congressional Budget Office updated this material using the methods that
were described in an appendix to a 2010 report, modified by changes described
in an appendix to a 2015 report. See Public Spending on Transportation and
Water Infrastructure (November 2010), www.cbo.gov/publication/21902, and
Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, 1956 to 2014
(March 2015), www.cbo.gov/publication/49910.
Specifically, CBO obtained data about federal outlays from the Office of
Management and Budget and about state and local governments’ outlays from
the Census Bureau. CBO then converted those nominal (current-dollar) data into
real (inflation-adjusted) data, using two sets of price indexes created by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis that track government expenditures and
investment. One set of indexes measures the prices of materials and other inputs
used by state and local governments to build transportation and water
infrastructure and was applied to nominal capital spending to convert it into
constant dollars; the other set measures the prices of materials and other inputs
used to operate and maintain that infrastructure and was applied to spending for
operation and maintenance.
How Did CBO Prepare This Update?

26. 25
CBO
All years referred to are federal fiscal years, which run from October 1
to September 30 and are designated by the calendar year in which
they end.
Numbers in the figures may not add up to totals because of rounding.
Detailed spending tables are available as a supplement to this
publication at www.cbo.gov/publication/54539.
Nathan Musick prepared this publication with contributions from
Joseph Kile, Jeffrey Kling, Benjamin Plotinsky, Jorge Salazar, Chad
Shirley, and David Wylie.
Notes and Acknowledgments