Depending on your destination, traffic delays, potholes and other highway headaches are increasingly becoming a daily routine in many states in the U.S.
That's according to a new report by the Reason Foundation, which looked at the highway systems in every state and found that, in many cases, the going is slow and bumpy for many commuters.
The report ranked the performance of state highway systems in 11 categories, including spending per mile, pavement conditions, deficient bridges, traffic congestion, and fatality rates.
The report found, for example, that Massachusetts had the lowest fatality rate, Wyoming had the least traffic congestion and Alaska had the worst pavement condition.
Certain states are having particular difficulties, according to the report.
The Reason Foundation found that over half, 53 percent, of the rural Interstate mileage in poor condition is in just eight states. Likewise, 54 percent, of the urban Interstate mileage in poor condition is in just eight states.
Urban areas faced the most traffic delays and rush hour problems, according to the rankings. Commuters in New Jersey, California, New York, Illinois, Washington, Virginia, Texas, Massachusetts and Georgia sat in congested traffic during peak hours more than the national average of 34.95 hours per year, according to the report.
When it comes to overall condition of highways, the Reason Foundation found the following states, in descending order, were ranked the lowest in the nation:
10. Pennsylvania
The state ranked 41st overall in highway performance and cost-effectiveness. Total cost disbursements per state-controlled mile came in under $200,000. Commuters in the state sat in congested traffic for 24 hours per year on average.
9. California
The Golden State’s state-controlled highway system is the 15th largest. Commuters can expect to spend 61.39 hours per year in their cars during peak hours. Positives for California include a low fatality rate, and only 28 percent of bridges were considered deficient.
8. Washington
Commuters can expect to sit in traffic about 38.70 hours a year. As the 16th largest highway system in the country, Washington did well in low fatality rank, rural arterial pavement conditions and costs related to administrative disbursements for road maintenance.
7. Massachusetts
The state has the 46th largest highway system in the country and ranked as one of the worst in total cost disbursement per mile. Maintenance of the highway per mile was about $695,000. Commuters can expect to sit in traffic for 43.08 hours per year.
6. New York
With the 13th largest highway system, New York spent about $532,000 per mile to maintain its stretch. Urban congestion and interstate conditions were poor, scoring a 49/50 for both categories. New York did rank low on the listing for fewest fatality rates per 100 million vehicle-miles of travel.
5. Connecticut
The state ranks last in administrative disbursements per mile, spending $99,417 to maintain each mile. Connecticut ranked 46th worst overall, with the 44th largest highway system in the country. For travel safety, the state was sixth with a low fatality rate per 100 million vehicle-miles of travel.
4. Hawaii
Despite the state having the smallest state-controlled highway mileage, Hawaii ranked low on the quality of its urban interstate pavement condition, and deficient bridges. Low fatality rates ranked 12th and congested urban areas meant commuters spent less time in their car during peak hours.
3. Alaska
The deficient bridges, rural arterial and rural interstate pavement gave the state its low ranking. The state does have few urban congested areas and urban interstate pavement conditions. The state’s highway mileage makes it the 35th largest system.
2. Rhode Island
Cost effectiveness and highway performance landed R.I. as the 49th worst state for highways. Deficient bridges and rural arterial pavement conditions were just a few issues that resulted in R.I.’s low rank. The state-controlled highway mileage makes it the 49th largest highway system.
1. New Jersey
While spending $2 million per mile, the Garden State ranked the worst because of its urban congestion. Commuters sat for over 72 hours a year on average in traffic during peak hours. Urban interstate pavement conditions did not bode well for New Jersey, either. Rural arterial and interstate roads ranked as the best for the state, along with a low fatality rate. The state-controlled highway mileage is the 47th largest in in the country.
The full report can be viewed here.
