As the clock ticks down on the Highway Trust Fund’s (HTF) solvency and the threat that the US Department of Transportation will slow down and lower reimbursements to state departments of transportation hangs in the air, the National Economic Council and the President’s Council of Economic Advisers have released a new report showing just how much worse things could get for each state.
The report, “An Economic Analysis of Transportation Infrastructure Investment” (and online map), details the conditions of each state’s roads and bridges and the economic consequences — both micro and macro — of delaying transportation funds. The report calls for the passage of the President’s GROW AMERICA Act as well as immediate Congressional action to make sure the HTF does not go broke this summer. (Transportation for America also released a report that looked at federal funding for states and what each state would lose if the HTF went bankrupt.)
Some of the report’s findings for Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and the nation are below. The entire chart, along with explanations, are here and here.
Miles of Public Road | Percent of Roads in Poor Condition | Number of Bridges | Percent of Deficient or Obsolete Bridges | Federal Funds as a Percent of Capital Outlays | Estimated Annual Jobs at Risk | Active Highway Projects | Active Transit Grants | Vehicle Repair and Operating Costs per Driver | |
CT | 21,414 | 41% | 4,218 | 35% | 53% | 9,612 | 1,630 | 89 | $661.26 |
NJ | 39,213 | 35% | 6,566 | 36% | 21% | 23,663 | 1,311 | 66 | $604.88 |
NY | 114,592 | 23% | 17,442 | 39% | 44% | 48,389 | 6,402 | 211 | $504.90 |
Entire U.S.* | 4,076,236 | 14% | 607,751 | 10% | 44% | 779,469 | 112,514 | 5,642 | $444.47 |
The House has reached an interim deal to replenish the HTF; now all eyes are on the Senate. This is good news for now, but to ensure that transportation projects receive funds in the long-term, a multi-year bill is needed, with a sustainable, stable funding source.
*The report notes that “65 percent of America’s major roads are rated in less than good condition, one in four bridges require significant repair or cannot handle today’s traffic.”
[…] to implement much-needed infrastructure improvements. With federal funds for transportation as undependable as ever, a consistent source of local funding could be the key to Nassau’s policy […]