A national transportation research group says Ohio's roadways are deteriorated and congested, costing drivers $12 billion each year. Yup, that's "billion" with a "b."
TRIP says that breaks down to about $2,022 per driver per year in the Cincinnati area.
The agency's transportation study, released Thursday, is specific to Ohio and calls for increasing funding for improving the state's roads and easing congestion.
The report states:
25 percent of major locally and state-maintained roads in the Cincinnati urban area are in poor condition and 25 percent are in mediocre condition, costing the average motorist an additional $574 each year in extra vehicle operating costs, including accelerated vehicle depreciation, additional repair costs, and increased fuel consumption and tire wear. Statewide, 23 percent of major urban roads are in poor condition and 12 percent are in mediocre condition.
Hamilton County Engineer Ted Hubbard says the report is valuable because it sheds light on the issue.
"It also helps foster discussion about where we go from here," Hubbard says. "It encourages discussion from government and the people. We need to talk about what we're willing to fund and what we're willing to live without so that we can prioritize because there is no Utopia."
Here's how drivers across Ohio's metropolitian areas fare per year:
- Cincinnati: $2,022
- Cleveland-Akron: $2,180
- Columbus: $1,906
- Dayton: $1,740
- Toledo: $1,976
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