AASHTO Journal, 31 May 2013
Aging transportation infrastructure across Pennsylvania costs drivers $9.4 billion each year, or up to $1,800 annually per driver due to congestion, crashes, and infrastructure condition, according to a report released Wednesday by national transportation organization TRIP.
The report, “Future Mobility in Pennsylvania: The Cost of Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” highlights the costs of not addressing the transportation infrastructure issues that plague drivers around the state. The report examined different areas around the state, finding effects of transportation issues in Harrisburg/York/Lancaster, Reading/Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Data shows that 42 percent of bridges across the state need repair, improvement, or replacement, the highest in the nation. Similarly, about 37 percent of Pennsylvania’s major locally and state-maintained roads were in either poor or mediocre condition, a number that is higher in the major urban areas of the state (73 percent of roads are in poor or mediocre condition in Philadelphia, for example).
While transportation infrastructure continues to age and deteriorate, the number of vehicle miles traveled has increased 16 percent from 1990 to 2011, and it is expected to increase another 15 percent by 2030. TRIP’s report says in order to capitalize on economic growth across the state, Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure needs to keep up.
“With a current unemployment rate of 7.9 percent and with the state’s population continuing to grow, Pennsylvania must improve its system of roads, highways and bridges to foster economic growth and keep businesses in the state,” according to the report. “In addition to economic growth, transportation improvements are needed to ensure safe, reliable mobility and quality of life for all Pennsylvanians. Meeting Pennsylvania’s need to modernize and maintain its system of roads, highways and bridges will require a significant boost in local, state and federal funding.”
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch said the report shows how vital increased transportation investment is in addressing aging infrastructure across the state.
“We simply cannot meet the challenges facing our transportation system without increasing investment in our aging roads, bridges, and transit services,” Schoch said in a statement addressing the report. “Governor Corbett’s plan calls for an increased investment of $1.8 billion in five years which will help us reverse years of underinvestment and do what’s right for our state’s future.”
The full 20-page TRIP report is available here.