Ohio speeds ahead in road, bridge rankings

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(The Center Square) – Ohio taxpayers are getting more mileage on the money the state invests in maintaining and improving its highways, according to a new report from the Reason Foundation.

The Buckeye State has jumped from 10th to fifth in the nation for cost-effectiveness as measured by the foundation, a libertarian policy organization.

The ranking comes out of a mixed bag for performance. For instance, road conditions in the state’s metropolitan areas come in at 35th in the country. Meanwhile, its rural roadways come in at ninth.

The divide between urban and rural road quality extends to other areas. For instance, the state is 18th for traffic fatalities in urban areas, while it’s sixth for rural regions. Across the state, Ohioans find themselves sitting in traffic for an average of 16 hours per year, putting it at 18th in the nation.

 “While the state performs strongly in maintenance disbursements (sixth), rural fatality rate (sixth), and rural other principal arterial pavement condition (ninth), its weaker performance in urban other principal arterial pavement condition and administrative disbursements remains an opportunity for improvement,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, lead author of the 29th Annual Highway Report and senior managing director of transportation policy at Reason Foundation.

When it comes to spending, the state is hardest hit by administrative spending, coming in at 30th in the nation. This sum comes from the general funds used to keep state highways in operation, including figures like employee salaries and benefits.

In Ohio, that adds up to about $9,000 per lane-mile.

With more than 26,000, Ohio ranks at the third highest number of bridges in the country. To maintain those bridges, the state spends just under $42,000 per lane-mile in capital and bridge disbursements. For that spending, it comes in at 14th in the nation for structurally deficient bridges.

The ranking comes as the state moves forward with the $4 billion Brent Spence Bridge project, a collaboration with Kentucky. In addition to state highway funds, the project is being supported by federal investments.

Ohio doesn’t spend much more on regular road maintenance than it does on administrative costs at just under $10,000 per lane-mile. That figure includes routine upkeep like filling potholes. The figure puts it at sixth among its peers.

When it comes to its closest neighbors, the foundation notes that, “Ohio’s overall highway performance is better than Kentucky’s (15th), Indiana’s (18th), Michigan’s (23rd), West Virginia’s (30th) and Pennsylvania’s (36th).”

“In terms of improving in the road condition and performance categories, Ohio should focus on improving its urban arterial pavement condition and reducing administrative disbursements,” said Feigenbaum.