LANSING – Across the United States, motorists are losing $335 a year because of the wear and tear on their cars from bad roads, but in Michigan that number is even higher than the national average at $370, according a report released Friday by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and TRIP, a transportation research group.
The cost to motorists was even higher in cities like Detroit with a population of 250,000 or more, where people are paying $525 more annually.
The report, “Rough Roads Ahead: Fix Them Now or Pay For It Later,” found that one-third of the major highways in the United States are in poor or mediocre condition and roads in urban areas, which have more traffic, are in even worse condition.
In Michigan, 37 percent of the state, city and county major roadways are in the same rundown condition, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration.
But Michigan fared well in some comparisons. Only 36 percent of metropolitan Detroit’s roadways are in poor condition. In the Los Angeles area, 64 percent of the roads are in poor condition.
“Michigan is in a battle to keep our transportation system in good working order,” said Kirk Steudle, director of the Department of Transportation. “Rapidly increasing costs, diminishing revenues, and an inability to match federal funds in 2011 means rough roads will be an ever increasing part of driving in Michigan unless we commit to finding the resources to support the caliber of transportation system that Michigan’s economy needs.”
Legislation implementing the recommendations from the Transportation Funding Task Force, including taxes on the wholesale price of gasoline, will be introduced soon.
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