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The Reason Foundation has released its Annual Highway Report,
which examines pavement condition, deficient bridges, traffic
congestion and the overall costs.
Senior Managing Director Baruch Feigenbaum said Illinois fell
seven spots from last year’s ranking to 36th in the country.
“Traffic congestion is obviously a problem in Chicago ranking
46th, bridges are a problem, ranked 38th, the fatality rate is
certainly not leading the nation in any of the fatality
categories, so Illinois’ biggest problem is that it doesn't do
anything well,” said Feigenbaum.
Compared to neighboring and nearby states, Illinois’ overall
highway performance is worse than Missouri's (9th), Kentucky’s
(11th), Indiana's (20th), Wisconsin’s (26th), and Iowa’s (31st).
In safety and condition categories, Illinois ranked near the
bottom for urban interstate pavement condition, and in the
bottom half for rural interstate condition.
Illinois drivers pay the second highest gasoline taxes in the
country and, by law, the proceeds are intended for
transportation infrastructure. The only state with higher gas
taxes is California.
In spending and cost-effectiveness, Illinois ranks 45th in
capital and bridge disbursements, which are the costs of
building new roads and bridges and widening existing ones.
“Illinois, with a spending ranking between 21st and 44th
depending on the category, that is not translating into better
pavement conditions,” said Feigenbaum.
The state with the overall highest quality and cost-effective
highway systems is North Carolina, followed by South Carolina
and North Dakota.
“In terms of improving in the road condition and performance
categories, Illinois should focus on reducing capital-bridge
disbursements, rural arterial pavement condition, and urbanized
congestion,” said Feigenbaum. |
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