Full Report on America's Rough Roads
Tulsa ranked 9th among urban areas with poor roads
by: JIM MYERS World Capitol Bureau
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
5/12/2009 3:38:21 AM
WASHINGTON
— A new report ranks the Tulsa area at No. 9 among major urban areas
with the largest percentage of roads in poor condition.
Released by the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials and Trip, a research group, the report states
that 47 percent of the Tulsa area's roads are in poor condition.
Those rough roads are costing motorists in the Tulsa area an
additional $703 each year in vehicle operating costs, and that figure
put the area at No. 4 on that list.
The Oklahoma City area came in 15th, with 41 percent of its
roads in poor condition, and the additional costs for drivers put at
$631 per year.
Oklahoma fared much better on the report's state lists, which were based on 2007 data.
With 21 percent of its roads in poor condition, which costs
motorists an additional $457 per year, the state came in at No. 36 on
both of those lists.
The report is titled "Rough Roads Ahead: Fix Them Now or Pay for It Later."
The two groups released it as Congress is gearing up efforts on reauthorizing a massive transportation program.
"Our nation has invested $1.75 trillion in our public highway
system over the past 50 years," said John Horsley, executive director
of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials.
"We hope Congress will make it possible for the federal
government to sustain its share of the increased investment needed to
keep America's roads in good condition.
"If not, it will cost the American people billions more later."
Frank Moretti, Trip's director of policy and research, said
federal stimulus dollars will provide a "helpful down payment" in
repairing the country's rough roads.
"But it will take a significant long-term boost in investment
by all levels of government to provide Americans with a smooth ride,"
he said.
Bad roads rated
The top urban areas for
poor roads and the percentage
of roads in poor
condition:
Los Angeles ...................64
San Jose, Calif. ............... 61
San Francisco-Oakland...61
Honolulu ......................... 61
Concord, Calif. .............. 54
New York-Newark ....... 54
San Diego ...................... 53
New Orleans ................. 49
Tulsa ..................................47
Oklahoma City ..............41
Posted on
Tue, May 12, 2009
by Crystal Drwenski