Wednesday, September 14, 2011

New report finds rural roads in dismal shape; state groups seek ways to fund work

The nation's rural roads have been neglected and are in dire need of repair, according to a recently released transportation study conducted by The Road Information Program. TRIP is a Washington-based non-profit charged with studying the condition of the nation's highways.

The report outlines the importance of sound transportation systems in rural areas and details the state of rural roads in each state. Key findings of the report include numbers of rural non-interstate traffic deaths, the percentage of major rural roads in poor condition and the highest share of rural bridges rated structurally deficient.

According to the report, Pennsylvania has the most rural bridges rated structurally deficient. Out of its more than 4,000 bridges, 28 percent were deficient. Seventeen percent of its rural roads were rated as being in poor condition. Jonathan Silver of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazaette reported that these issues have added significance considering the state has the third largest rural population, 2.8 million.

West Virgina ranks as the third worst in the nation in rural road fatalities, almost double the rate of other types of roads, The Associated Press reports. The report notes 27 percent of the state's rural roads are in poor condition, meaning they are damaged with rutting, cracks and potholes that call for replacement of roads that can't be resurfaced.

In Missouri, groups such as the Missouri Transportation Alliance are looking for ways to fund rural road improvement, like state gas tax or sales tax increases. However, Josh Nelson of The News Leader in Springfield reports that MTA spokesperson Bill McKenna said federal highway spending is a likely target of the 12-member congressional deficit "super committee." Silver writes that Pennsylvania state highway officials have urged Congress to create a six-year funding plan that would focus on rural infrastructure. So far, though, Congress has not passed any such measure. To see the TRIP report, entitled "Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America's Heartland," in its entirety, click here.

No comments: