Third Worst Roads; Fourth Most Expensive to Drive: California's Aging Highway System Among Worst in Country

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Feb. 13, 2001--California's deteriorating highway system now ranks third worst in the country, according to a new study from Transportation California, the state's leading highway advocacy group.
    Only Louisiana and Missouri have more deteriorated roadway systems than California.
    The state's poor roads now cost California drivers an average of $354 annually in extra vehicle operating costs. That totals $7.4 billion each year statewide.
    "This gives California the dubious distinction of having the fourth highest extra vehicle operating costs in the nation," said Larry Fisher, executive director of Transportation California.
    "Today we're paying the price for years of neglecting California's infrastructure," added Fisher. "Like energy and other systems that are fundamental to our quality of life, California's highways are beginning to fail. If that trend is not reversed, it will lead to economic disaster. Clearly we must devote far more resources to improving and enhancing our highways."
    The roads and highways study, prepared by Washington, D.C.-based The Road Information Program (TRIP), documents the impact of population and economic growth on the state's major roads. TRIP's analysis of federal data shows that nearly half of the state's roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and nearly half of California's urban interstates and freeways are congested.
    The study shows a 93 percent increase in number of vehicle miles traveled on California's roads between 1980 and 2000, nearly doubling from 155 billion miles to 300 billion miles. Vehicle miles are projected to increase another 70 percent in California by the year 2025.
    Wear and tear on the transportation system will increase in coming years. The state's population, which increased 33 percent between 1980 and 2000, is expected to increase by another 53 percent to 49 million people by 2025.
    Highway travel and California's gross state product have grown at a similar rate over the past two decades. Between 1980 and 2000, both vehicle miles of travel and gross state product, when adjusted for inflation, doubled.
    "These numbers show the correlation between economic development and increased mobility," said Fisher. "Each affects the other. More than 70 percent of California's goods and services travel on our highways. Without adequate roads to ship goods to meet demand, the economy will suffer."

    For a complete copy of "California's Roads and Highways: Conditions and Travel Trends," go to www.tripnet.org (see "Roads and Bridges") or www.transportationca.com (see "Recent News").

    The TRIP study was commissioned by Transportation California, a statewide coalition of unions, highway contractors, businesses and others concerned about the future of California's highways.

    Founded in 1971, The Road Information Program (TRIP) of Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates, and distributes economic and technical data on highway transportation issues.