A new report says roads in the Cleveland and Akron areas are among the most deteriorated in the nation.
Advertisement
Greater Cleveland ranks sixth among large urban areas with populations of 500,000 or more in the percentage of roads in poor condition and seventh in the annual cost to motorists of driving on rough roads. The report, issued by TRIP, analyzes data on fix costs and road conditions.
Research from TRIP, a national transportation research group, showed 54 percent of the major roads in the Flint urban area are in poor condition.
Roads in Lansing (#9) and Ann Arbor (#23) also ranked high on the list of mid-sized urban areas with the worst roads.
In 2013, TRIP estimated that 28 percent of U.S. major urban roads, including interstates, freeways and primary roads, had pavements that were in substandard condition, costing the average driver $516 annually and $109.3 billion nationally.
“Local infrastructure continues to rapidly deteriorate and the cost of repairs continues to climb with state and federal governments unable to agree on of a long-tern funding solution to fix our transportation network”, John LaMacchia of the Michigan Municipal League said in a statement.
“The nation’s rough roads stress nerves and cost billions in unnecessary vehicle replacement, fix and fuel costs”, said Jill Ingrassia, AAA managing director of government relations and traffic safety advocacy.
Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said road maintenance depends on federal investment. With vehicle travel growth rates returning to pre-recession levels and large truck travel anticipated to grow significantly, mounting wear and tear on the nation’s urban roads and highways is expected to increase the cost of needed highway repairs.
The TRIP report comes as the Senate debates a six-year highway bill that is only funded for three years, leaving the next Congress to find additional funding. The bill provided $561 million and $572 million in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 to oversee U.S. surface transportation funding. “Attracting jobs and expanding a region’s economy requires a well-maintained, efficient and safe transportation system”.
Advertisement
“This report from TRIP validates what drivers already suspect, that the state’s roads are among the roughest in the nation”, said Donohue, who called on Lansing and Washington, D.C., to provide additional long-term funding for roads. It is calling on Congress to authorize a long-term federally-funded transportation program which improves road conditions on US roads and highways.
