Nearly One-Fourth of Major Roads in Largest Urban Areas Need Immediate Repair, New Study Shows.

Drivers in Largest Urban Areas Pay $358 a Year Per Motorist in Extra Vehicle

            Operating Costs to Drive on Roads That Need Repair
      Boston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, San Jose,
  San Francisco-0akland, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and Grand Rapids Have
                Highest Percent of Roads in Poor Condition

WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly one-fourth -- 23 percent -- of major roads in the nation's largest urban areas have significant deterioration and need immediate repair or reconstruction, according to a new report released today by a nonprofit transportation research group based in Washington, DC.

The Road Information Program (TRIP) report, "Rough Ride in the City: How Poor Road Conditions Increase Motorists' Costs," also concluded that motorists in the nation's major cities are paying an average of $358 per motorist in extra vehicle operating costs (VOC) to drive on roads in need of repair. (The report also provides recommended strategies that can help improve conditions.)

"Motorists in our nation's largest cities are in for a rough ride every time they drive unless needed road improvements are made," said William M. Wilkins, executive director of The Road Information Program (TRIP).

Wilkins said motorists are paying additional vehicle operating costs when they drive on roads in poor condition that need immediate repair or reconstruction.

"Motorists are paying hidden taxes as a result of extra vehicle operating costs resulting from additional tire wear, extra fuel consumption and vehicle deterioration caused by driving on roads in need of repair," Wilkins said.

Wilkins said the best way to reduce those costs to motorists is to make needed repairs and improvements to the roads, which would require an increase in funding for roads at the federal, state and local levels.

"The best way to improve poor road conditions in our cities is to increase funding for our nation's transportation system at all levels," Wilkins said. "We can do that by spending some of the $18.5 billion paid by our nation's motorists that now sits in the Federal Highway Trust Fund."

The Bush Administration proposed an $8.5 billion cut in federal highway funding in 2003 when it presented its budget proposal last month. Wilkins said the federal cuts also are taking place at the same time that many states are facing budget shortfalls.

"Many states are facing a double whammy because proposed cuts in federal programs are taking place at the same time that state budgets are being curtailed," Wilkins said.

TRIP analyzed data for major urban areas that was obtained from the Federal Highway Administration in putting together the report. The 10 urban areas with a population of 1 million ore more which had the highest percentage of roads in poor condition are Boston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, San Jose, San Francisco-Oakland, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and Grand Rapids.

Another 27 percent of the nation's urban roads are rated in mediocre condition and currently or soon will be in need of repairs to return them to good condition.

Wilkins said there are new materials and techniques which offer the opportunity of resurfacing and reconstructing roads to slow future deterioration, thus reducing the costs to motorists. Preservation treatments on highway surfaces still in good condition can delay the need for significant pavement replacement by five to 10 years.

  TRIP offers the following recommendations for insuring a smooth drive:
  *  Implement an aggressive pothole repair program that uses the best
     patching material available.
  *  Maintain roads in a timely fashion using pavement material that is
     designed to be the most durable given local climate and the level and
     mix of traffic on the road.
  *  When critical routes need to be reconstructed, consider using longer
     design standards, which will increase costs but lengthen the service
     life of the road.
  *  Implement a pavement preservation program that treats road surfaces
     while they are still in good condition to extend its service life.
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Website: http://www.tripnet.org/