A new report from transportation research group TRIP detailed how poor conditions on roads and bridges are costing Pennsylvania drivers a total of $9.4 billion annually—approximately $1,800 per person.
For the report, TRIP determined total financial cost of poor roads and bridges through a combination of vehicle operating costs, congestion-related delays and traffic crashes. The report focused on the state’s five major metro areas: Harrisburg-York-Lancaster, Lehigh Valley-Reading, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Drivers in the Harrisburg-York-Lancaster region paid the most due to poor road conditions at approximately $1.65 million. According to the analysis, 41% of major urban roads in that region were classified in mediocre or poor condition. Philadelphia had the highest percentage of roads in mediocre or poor condition at 71%. The total percentage of mediocre or poor major roads statewide is 37%.
Safety concerns played a role as well, as there were 1,286 traffic fatalities reported in Pennsylvania in 2011.
In total, drivers across the state spent up to 48 hours stuck in traffic over the course of the year.
