The study released Wednesday found that 37 percent of Pennsylvania's major local- and state-maintained roads and highways are in poor or mediocre condition.
A transportation report released Wednesday says that inadequate roads cost the average Lehigh Valley motorist about $1,400 per year.
The $1,355 spent per year includes $420 due to vehicle operation costs; $656 due to traffic congestion; and $279 due to safety, the report says.
TRIP, a national nonprofit research group backed by insurance companies, labor unions and businesses, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association are calling for $2.5 billion to improve roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.
The report,"Future Mobility in Pennsylvania: The Cost of Meeting the
State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility," was released and presented Wednesday in Whitehall Township.
TRIP's report analyzes road and bridge conditions, traffic
congestion, economic development, highway safety and transportation
funding in the commonwealth.
The cost of deficiency
Pennsylvania drivers lose $9.4 billion each year driving on congested, deteriorated and unsafe roads, said Carolyn Bonifas Kelly, TRIP's associate director of research and communication. The study found that 37 percent of the state's major local- and state-maintained roads and highways are in poor or mediocre condition, she said.
Traffic congestion causes the average area driver to lose 30 hours and 14 gallons of fuel per year, the report says.
Lehigh Valley drivers are "wasting time and fuel every single day," she said.
For every dollar spent on road, highway and bridge upgrades, drivers could save an average of $5.20 per year in reduced vehicle maintenance costs, reduced delays, fuel consumption and more as a result of improved traffic flow, the report states.
Kelly said about 42 percent of the state's bridges need repair, 25 percent are structurally deficient and 17 percent are functionally obsolete.
Kelly said transportation enhancements would create jobs, boost the state's economy and create a lasting asset for future generations. These upgrades would be costly, she said, but doing nothing would costlier.
Robert Lebus, owner of Transource Inc. and operator of Unishippers, said he often has to send trucks on different routes because of deteriorating roads.
Seeking funding
Michelle Griffin, an executive vice president for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber supports developing a long-term funding strategy for transportation improvements.
Options could include more tolls, inflation-based increases in fuel tax and fees, gradually raising the cap on the oil company franchise tax, public-private partnerships, and efficiency improvements.
The groups are not endorsing any legislation but support the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission's Aug. 2011
report, which calls for $2.5 billion for transportation, Griffin said.
Jason Wagner, director of policy and government relations for the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association, said he is "very confident" that legislators will back the organizations. Gov. Tom Corbett said transportation funding is one of his top three priorities, he said, and Lehigh Valley delegates have said transportation is a top issue.
And if a resolution is not reached by the state budget deadline on June 30?
"We keep fighting," Griffin said.