he objective of this study is to examine prevailing rural design standards to determine their economic justification. This would evaluate in depth the cost of some of the most significant design practices (for example, roadway and shoulder width and surfacing type). Resulting user benefits, such as operating, accident and time savings would be weighed against the cost of individual features. In addition to the analysis of the user-benefit relationships, the economic and social consequences to local residents, businesses and communities should be studied and a suitable means of including them in the reckoning of warranted levels of improvement should be found.