AASHTO Journal, 26 October 2012
A boost in funding for transportation investment in Maine is needed to improve road and bridge conditions, increase safety, and help the long-term growth of the state, says a report released Thursday by TRIP.
The report, “Maine Transportation by the Numbers: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” presented a wide variety of transportation-related numbers. For example, 33 percent of Maine’s local and state roads and highways are in either poor or mediocre condition, while 30 percent of the state’s bridges are in need of repair or replacement. The report also states that traveling on these deteriorating roads costs Maine drivers about $299 per year in additional vehicle operating costs (such as more fuel consumption, tire wear, and extra repair costs), which amounts to a total of about $301 million.
This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the state is already facing a $150 million shortfall in the amount of money needed to meet its goals for improving these conditions and addressing traffic challenges over the next decade. However, TRIP found that finding a way to make that investment happen would actually help the state’s financial status by creating much-needed jobs across Maine. The investment would also make life easier for freight, which is vital to the state’s economy.
So while the state would have to make a substantial financial investment into Maine’s transportation system, the benefits has the potential to far surpass the cost.
“As the nation looks to rebound from the current economic downturn, the U.S. will need to modernize its surface transportation system by improving the physical condition of its transportation network and enhancing the system’s ability to provide efficient and reliable mobility for motorists and business,” the report states. “Making needed improvements to Maine’s roads, highways, and bridges could provide a significant boost to the state’s economy by creating jobs in the short term and stimulating long-term economic growth as a result of enhanced mobility and access.”
The 18-page report, which contains many other facts and figures regarding the state of Maine’s transportation system, is available at bit.ly/MaineTRIP.