(The Center Square) – It might be tough to convince Ohio drivers dodging potholes currently, but a new report ranks the state with the 10th best highway system report.
The Reason Foundation’s 28th annual Highway Report, released Thursday, evaluates highway systems on cost versus quality. The Buckeye State climbed seven spots from a year ago.
The report comes at a time when Ohioans typically are forced to dodge potholes throughout the state following consistently freezing and thawing after wide temperature variations.
Compared to states with similar population, Ohio ranked behind Georgia (6th) but well ahead of Illinois (36th). Compared to its neighbors, Ohio ranked higher than Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Ohio ranked 14th in traffic congestion, with drivers spending 12 hours a year stuck in traffic. A year ago, the state was 30th in the same category.
It was 6th in capital and bridge disbursements ratio, 9th in rural pavement condition, and 9th in rural fatality rate. It ranked 20th in maintenance spending, which includes filing potholes.
“In terms of improving in the road condition and performance categories, Ohio should focus on improving its urban pavement condition—both arterial and Interstate. The state ranks in the bottom 20 in both categories,” Baruch Feigenbaum, lead author of the report, said. “Reducing the other fatality rate ought to be a priority, as the state ranks in the bottom 20 in that category.”
North Carolina ranks as the best in the nation overall, followed by South Carolina, North Dakota, Virginia and Tennessee. The worst states were Alaska, California, Hawaii, Washington and Louisiana.
