Report: Deteriorating Roads In LA Cost Drivers More Than $1K Annually
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Researchers Thursday released a study that has shown street conditions in Los Angeles County are amongst the most deteriorated roadways in the nation.
According to the study put out by TRIP, a national transportation research group based in Washington, D.C., 73 percent of major roads in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Santa Ana are considered to be in poor condition.
The study reports these areas have ranked second out of 25 urban cities nationwide. Three out of four roads are considered to be in poor condition.
"The poor conditions of our roadways and highways should be a principal concern of legislators," said Tom Holsman, Assocaited General Contractors of California's chief executive officer. "The insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund is indicative of how imperative it is that legislators pass a multi-year highway bill that will provide for a long-term solution before the state of our infrastructure deteriorates further."
Traveling on roads that are in poor condition tends to increase costs due to wear on tires, vehicle deterioration, fuel consumption and an increased need for maintenance, according to the TRIP report.
Poor road conditions such as cracked and broken pavement along with pot holes have cost drivers around $1,031 annually.
Funding from the Federal Surface Transportation Program is sent to expire at the end of July.
Researchers said road conditions are expected to further decline without additional funding from state, federal and local authorities.
CBS2's Jasmine Viel reported the senate continues to debate a bill while the House of Representatives have passed a temporary extension for funding.
Groups like AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are expected to discuss this report later today.
"The long-term preservation and maintenance of our national transportation system depends on federal investment," said Bud Wright, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. "We can do better than the uncertainty of short-term extensions. America needs Congress to fully fund a multi-year surface transportation bill."
The TRIP report offers data including driver costs for urban areas with a population of 250,000 or more, and pavement condition. Data was obtained from the Federal Highway Administration.
