交通运输部：农村公路发展逐步进入新阶段

Core Viewpoint - The construction of rural roads in China has successfully completed the targets set in the "14th Five-Year Plan" ahead of schedule, marking a new phase of development that emphasizes both new construction and the improvement of existing infrastructure [1][4]. Group 1: Investment and Infrastructure Development - Since the beginning of the "14th Five-Year Plan," the central government has invested a total of 220 billion yuan in vehicle purchase tax, leading to approximately 2 trillion yuan in rural road investments from society [1]. - Over the first four years of the "14th Five-Year Plan," 716,000 kilometers of rural roads have been newly constructed or renovated, bringing the total length to 4.644 million kilometers, a 6% increase compared to the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan" [1]. - The proportion of towns connected to roads of grade three or above has reached 89.5%, while 94.6% of larger natural villages have access to paved roads [1]. Group 2: Challenges and Future Directions - Despite progress, rural road development faces challenges such as low technical standards, inadequate road network quality, and insufficient management and maintenance [2]. - The current period is critical for promoting the high-quality development of the "Four Good Rural Roads," with a focus on quality, efficiency, and comprehensive coordination in construction, management, and maintenance [4][5]. - The implementation of a new round of rural road enhancement actions aims to optimize the rural road network and improve safety and service quality for rural transportation [5]. Group 3: Regulatory Framework and Funding - The new "Rural Road Regulations" will take effect on September 15, emphasizing the need for local governments to improve policies and funding mechanisms for rural road development [5][6]. - The regulations propose a funding system primarily based on fiscal input, encouraging diverse funding sources, including social donations and financial services from institutions [6]. - Integration of rural roads with tourism and other commercial projects is encouraged to create new funding channels for road maintenance and stimulate rural economic development [6].