 The conversion of gravel highways to hard surfacing became a priority of the department in 1950s, but limited funding meant this plan had to be executed strategically.As such, the department engineers developed a sufficiency rating system to prioritize projects based on their condition, economic factors, safety and service.As funding became an issue and keeping up with maintenance of the existing highway system became difficult, the department realized the public needed to be more aware of the need for proper funding and as a result developed the State Highway Commission in 1953 to act in an advisory capacity to the State Engineer and to formulate a highway system to be financed with revenue produced by highway user taxes.