TRIP Report: Maryland Losses Total $6.2 Billion. Forty-One Percent Of Maryland Roads Need Improvement, One Quarter Of Bridges Require Repair Or Replacement, And Rural Fatalities Are Disporportionately High

More than two-fifths of Maryland’s major locally and state-maintained roads are in either poor or mediocre condition, one quarter of bridges are in need of repair or replacement, and the state’s drivers experience increasingly worsening congestion. In addition to deteriorated roads and bridges, Maryland’s rural roads have a significantly higher traffic fatality rate than all other roads in the state. Increased investment in transportation improvements could improve road and bridge conditions, ease congestion, boost safety, and support long-term economic growth in Maryland, according to a new report released today by TRIP, a Washington, DC based national transportation organization. The TRIP report, “Maryland Transportation by the Numbers: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” provides data on key transportation facts and figures in the state:

“Today we face traffic gridlock – the worst in the nation. Tomorrow, without sufficient funding to support our infrastructure needs, we may face economic gridlock that will cost us far more,” said Douglas M. Duncan, chair of the Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance.

Maryland roadways that lack some desirable safety features, have inadequate capacity to meet travel demands or have poor pavement conditions cost the state’s residents approximately $6.2 billion each year in the form of additional vehicle operating costs, the cost of lost time and wasted fuel due to traffic congestion, and traffic crashes. Driving on roads that are congested, deteriorated and that lack some desirable safety features costs the average Washington, DC area driver $2,195 annually due to deficient roads.

According to the TRIP report, 41 percent of Maryland’s major locally and state-maintained roads are in either poor or mediocre condition. In the Washington, DC metro area, 62 percent of roads are in poor or mediocre condition. A total of 25 percent of Maryland’s bridges show significant deterioration or do not meet modern design standards. Seven percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient, which indicates that there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. An additional 18 percent of Maryland’s bridges are functionally obsolete. These bridges no longer meet current highway design standards, often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment.

Growing traffic congestion, particularly in the state’s urban areas, threatens to choke commuting and commerce. The average commuter in the Washington, DC metro area loses 67 hours each year stuck in congestion.

Traffic crashes in Maryland claimed the lives of 2,897 people between 2006 and 2010. The state’s traffic fatality rate of 0.88 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT) is lower than the national average of 1.11 fatalities per 100 million VMT. However, the traffic fatality rate in 2010 on Maryland’s non-Interstate rural roads was 1.67 traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, nearly two-and-a-half times higher than the 0.69 traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel on all other roads and highways in the state. Roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of all fatal and serious traffic crashes. Where appropriate, highway improvements can reduce traffic fatalities and crashes while improving traffic flow to help relieve congestion.

“These key transportation numbers in Maryland add up to trouble for the state’s residents in terms of deteriorated roads and bridges, reduced traffic safety and constrained economic development,” said Will Wilkins, executive director of TRIP.  “Improving road and bridge conditions, improving traffic safety and providing a transportation system that will support economic development in Maryland will require a significant boost in state and federal funding for road, highway and bridge improvements.”

Executive Summary

Maryland’s extensive system of roads, highways and bridges provides the state’s residents, visitors and businesses with a high level of mobility. This transportation system forms the backbone that supports the state’s economy. Maryland’s surface transportation system enables the state’s residents and visitors to travel to work and school, visit family and friends, and frequent tourist and recreation attractions while providing its businesses with reliable access to customers, materials, suppliers and employees.

As Maryland looks to retain its businesses, maintain its level of economic competitiveness and achieve further economic growth, the state will need to maintain and modernize its roads, highways and bridges by improving the physical condition of its transportation network and enhancing the system’s ability to provide efficient and reliable mobility for motorists and businesses.  Making needed improvements to Maryland’s roads, highways and bridges could also provide a significant boost to the state’s economy by creating jobs in the short term and stimulating long-term economic growth as a result of enhanced mobility and access.

With a current unemployment rate of 6.6 percent and with the state’s population continuing to grow, Maryland must improve its system of roads, highways and bridges to foster economic growth and keep businesses in the state. In addition to economic growth, transportation improvements are needed to ensure safe, reliable mobility and quality of life for all Maryland residents.  Meeting Maryland’s need to modernize and maintain its system of roads, highways and bridges will require a significant boost in local, state and federal funding.

An inadequate transportation system costs Maryland residents a total of $6.2 billion every year in the form of additional vehicle operating costs (VOC), congestion-related delays and traffic crashes.

• TRIP estimates that Maryland roadways that lack some desirable safety features, have inadequate capacity to meet travel demands or have poor pavement conditions cost the state’s residents approximately $6.2 billion annually in the form of additional vehicle operating costs, the cost of lost time and wasted fuel due to traffic congestion and traffic crashes.

• TRIP has calculated the annual cost to Maryland residents of driving on roads that are deteriorated, congested and lack some desirable safety features both statewide and in the state’s two largest urban areas (estimates for the Washington, DC area include the entire urban area).  The following chart shows the cost breakdown for these areas.

Population and economic growth in Maryland have resulted in increased demands on the state’s major roads and highways, leading to increased wear and tear on the transportation system. 

• Maryland’s population reached 5.9 million in 2012, a 23 percent increase since 1990, when the state’s population was approximately 4.8 million. Maryland had 3,856,604licensed drivers in 2011.
• Vehicle miles traveled in Maryland increased by 39 percent from 1990 to 2011 – jumping from 40.5 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 1990 to 56.2 billion VMT in 2011.

• By 2030, vehicle travel in Maryland is projected to increase by another 20 percent.

• From 1990 to 2011, Maryland’s gross domestic product, a measure of the state’s economic output, increased by 54 percent, when adjusted for inflation.

Forty-one percent of major locally and state-maintained roads and highways in Maryland have pavement surfaces in poor or mediocre condition, providing a rough ride and costing motorist in the form of additional vehicle operating costs. 

• Twenty-one percent of Maryland’s major roads and highways have pavements in poor condition, while an additional 20 percent of the state’s major roads are rated in mediocre condition.  Fifteen percent are rated in fair condition and the remaining 44 percent are rated in good condition.

• The pavement data in this report for all arterial roads and highways is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, based on data submitted annually by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the condition of major state and locally maintained roads and highways in the state.
• In the Baltimore urban area, 37 percent of major locally and state-maintained roads are rated in poor condition and 29 percent are rated in mediocre condition.  Twelve percent of Baltimore’s major urban roads are rated in fair condition and 22 percent are rated in good condition.
• In the Washington, DC urban area, 35 percent of major locally and state-maintained roads are rated in poor condition and 27 percent are rated in mediocre condition.  Eighteen percent of Washington DC’s major urban roads are rated in fair condition and 20 percent are rated in good condition.
• Driving on rough roads costs Maryland motorist a total of $1.5 billion annually in extra vehicle operating costs. Costs include accelerated vehicle depreciation, additional repair costs, and increased fuel consumption and tire wear.
• Driving on rough roads costs the average Baltimore motorist $594 annually in extra vehicle operating costs. The average motorist in the Washington, DC area loses $578 annually due to driving on deteriorated roads.
• Roads rated in poor condition may show signs of deterioration, including rutting, cracks and potholes.  In some cases, poor roads can be resurfaced, but often are too deteriorated and must be reconstructed. Roads rated in mediocre condition may show signs of significant wear and may also have some visible pavement distress. Most pavements in mediocre condition can be repaired by resurfacing, but some may need more extensive reconstruction to return them to good condition.

One fourth of locally and state-maintained bridges in Maryland show significant deterioration or do not meet current design standards often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment. This includes all bridges that are 20 feet or more in length. 

• Seven percent of Maryland’s bridges are structurally deficient. A bridge is structurally deficient if there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. Structurally deficient bridges are often posted for lower weight or closed to traffic, restricting or redirecting large vehicles, including commercial trucks and emergency services vehicles.
• Eighteen percent of Maryland’s bridges are functionally obsolete.  Bridges that are functionally obsolete no longer meet current highway design standards, often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment.

Significant levels of traffic congestion cause significant delays in Maryland, particularly in its larger urban areas, choking commuting and commerce.

• According to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), the average driver in the Baltimore urban area loses $908 each year in the cost of lost time and wasted fuel as a result of traffic congestion. The average commuter in the Baltimore urban area loses 41 hours each year stuck in congestion.
• TTI calculates that the average driver in the Washington, DC urban area loses $1,398 each year in the cost of lost time and wasted fuel as a result of traffic congestion.  The average Washington, DC commuter loses 67 hours each year stuck in congestion.

Maryland’s traffic fatality rate on rural, non-Interstate routes is nearly two and a half times higher than that on all other roads and highways in the state.  Improving safety features on Maryland’s roads and highways would likely result in a decrease in the state’s traffic fatalities and serious crashes. Roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of all fatal and serious traffic crashes.  

• Between 2006 and 2010, a total of 2,897 people were killed in traffic crashes in Maryland, an average of 579 fatalities per year.
• Maryland’s overall traffic fatality rate of 0.88 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2010 is lower than the national average of 1.11.
• The fatality rate on Maryland’s rural non-Interstate roads was 1.67 fatalities per 100 vehicle miles of travel in 2010, nearly two-and-a-half times higher than the 0.69 fatality rate in 2010 on all other roads and highways in the state.
• The national fatality rate on rural non-Interstate roads was 2.14 fatalities per 100 vehicle miles of travel in 2010, higher than the 0.77 fatality rate in 2010 on all other roads and highways in the U.S.
• The cost of serious traffic crashes in Maryland in 2011, in which roadway features were likely a contributing factor, was approximately $1.3 billion.
• Roadway features which impact safety include the number of lanes, lane widths, lighting, lane markings, rumble strips, shoulders, guard rails, other shielding devices, median barriers and intersection design.  The cost of serious crashes includes lost productivity, lost earnings, medical costs and emergency services.
• Several factors are associated with vehicle crashes that result in fatalities, including driver behavior, vehicle characteristics and roadway features.  TRIP estimates that roadway features are a contributing factor in approximately one-third of fatal traffic crashes.
• Where appropriate, highway improvements can reduce traffic fatalities and crashes while improving traffic flow to help relieve congestion.  Such improvements include removing or shielding obstacles; adding or improving medians; improved lighting; adding rumble strips, wider lanes, wider and paved shoulders; upgrading roads from two lanes to four lanes; and better road markings and traffic signals.
• Investments in rural traffic safety have been found to result in significant reductions in serious traffic crashes.  A 2012 report by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) found that improvements completed recently by the Texas Department of Transportation that widened lanes, improved shoulders and made other safety improvements on 1,159 miles of rural state roadways resulted in 133 fewer fatalities on these roads in the first three years after the improvements were completed (as compared to the three years prior).   TTI estimates that the improvements on these roads are likely to save 880 lives over the next 20 years.

The efficiency of Maryland’s transportation system, particularly its highways, is critical to the health of the state’s economy.  Businesses are increasingly reliant on an efficient and reliable transportation system to move products and services. A key component in business efficiency and success is the level and ease of access to customers, markets, materials and workers.

• Annually, $131 billion in goods are shipped from sites in Maryland and another $205 billion in goods are shipped to sites in Maryland, mostly by truck.
  Eighty-one percent of the goods shipped annually from sites in Maryland are carried by trucks and another 14 percent are carried by courier services or multiple mode deliveries, which include trucking.
• Site Selection magazine’s 2010 survey of corporate real estate executives found that transportation infrastructure was the third most important selection factor in site location decisions, behind only work force skills and state and local taxes.
• A 2007 analysis by the Federal Highway Administration found that every $1 billion invested in highway construction would support approximately 27,800 jobs, including approximately 9,500 in the construction sector, approximately 4,300 jobs in industries supporting the construction sector, and approximately 14,000 other jobs induced in non-construction related sectors of the economy.
• The Federal Highway Administration estimates that each dollar spent on road, highway and bridge improvements results in an average benefit of $5.20 in the form of reduced vehicle maintenance costs, reduced delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, reduced road and bridge maintenance costs and reduced emissions as a result of improved traffic flow.
• Businesses have responded to improved communications and greater competition by moving from a push-style distribution system, which relies on low-cost movement of bulk commodities and large-scale warehousing, to a pull-style distribution system, which relies on smaller, more strategic and time-sensitive movement of goods.
• Increasingly, companies are looking at the quality of a region’s transportation system when deciding where to re-locate or expand. Regions with congested or poorly maintained roads may see businesses relocate to areas with a smoother, more efficient and more modern transportation system.

Sources of information for this report include the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the U.S. Census Bureau, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  

To view the entire document visit: TRIP