Development, Application, and Optimization of the "Reward-in-Lieu-of-Subsidy" Assessment for Ordinary Provincial Highways and Rural Roads

Ma Jie, Zhang Xiaozheng, Cui Yingshou, Zhang Shuzhen

China Academy of Transportation Sciences

Abstract：

This paper focuses on the development and application of the "Reward-in-Lieu-of-Subsidy" (RLS) assessment for ordinary provincial highways and rural roads, with the aim of providing decision-making references for optimizing the RLS policy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. By systematically reviewing the evolution of the RLS policy, the assessment mechanism, and the application of ministry- and provincial-level data support systems, the current RLS assessment is examined. Based on assessment data submitted under the RLS program, the study identifies problems including inadequate data-reporting quality, insufficient fund execution, and insufficient investment. Corresponding recommendations are proposed: improving data quality from the perspectives of personnel, systems, and mechanisms, and addressing funding difficulties through fund execution, local-government guidance, and performance management, thereby supporting the improvement of policy quality and effectiveness.

Key Words：

ordinary provincial highways and rural roads; "Reward-in-Lieu-of-Subsidy" assessment; data support system