Washington’s highway system is one of the least efficient in the country, according to a new report from the Reason Foundation. The state ranks 48th out of 50, dropping one spot from last year.
The report looks at road conditions, safety, traffic, and spending. Washington performs below average in many of these areas. Road quality is a major issue, especially on rural interstates and urban roads, where the state ranks near the bottom. Safety rankings are also middling, with Washington placing in the low 30s for both rural and urban fatality rates. The study did note that Washington’s biggest decline since the last report was its Rural Fatality Rate; the state went from 18th to 34th place in the rankings.
Traffic congestion is another problem. The state ranks 39th, and WA drivers spend about 34 hours each year stuck in traffic.
The biggest concern, however, is how much Washington spends. It ranks 50th—last place—in both construction and maintenance costs. This means the state spends more than others but doesn’t get better results. Administrative costs are also relatively high, though they have improved slightly.
Compared to nearby states, Washington only performs better than California, which ranks 49th. It falls behind Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana. It also ranks far below similarly sized states like Virginia, which is ranked number one.
The report’s lead author, Baruch Feigenbaum, says Washington should focus on lowering costs and improving road conditions. While there have been small improvements in some areas, the state still struggles with high spending and poor results overall.
