The latest report from a Washington, D.C. based non-profit highway group says drivers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City pay some of the highest driving costs in the nation, thanks to the poor condition of roads and highways.
Tulsa is ranked 5 and Oklahoma City 6 in terms of the cost to drivers, according to the survey by Transportation Research and Innovation Portal. TRIP says while the average motorist in the U.S. loses $599 a year in vehicle operating costs, Tulsa drivers lose $898 and those in Oklahoma City lose $897. San Francisco, California is highest with an annual loss of $1,049.
Of cities with a population of 200,000 or more, Oklahoma City ranked 20th with an estimated 37% of its streets and roads in poor shape. San Francisco was number one with 71% of its streets in bad shape.
The non-profit group said the rising costs show a significant boost in funding is needed to improve roadway conditions across the country. It noted that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s semi-annual report on the condition, use and funding needs found the current backlog in highway rehabilitation is $419.5 billion.
It also found the nation’s current $41 billion in annual highway investment should be increased by 33 percent to $61 billion a year.
Add the fact that vehicle travel in the U.S. grew by 16 percent from 2000 to 2016 and the nation’s population grew 15 percent from 2000 to 2017. Travel by large commercial trucks increased 29 percent.
Click here for entire report.