Maryland Ranks Second Worst in Nation on Pothole Index

Maryland motorists are dodging more potholes these days but Maryland transportation agencies have spent the available, flexible federal aid to expand highways rather than fixing roads according to Potholes and Politics 1998, a report released today by the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) and environmental and housing groups. Maryland has over 1,750 miles of urbanized area highways in poor or mediocre condition, yet spent an annual average of only $20,782 per urban highway mile in need of repair in 1996-97, compared to a national average of over $90,000. Maryland ranks second worst among states in the report’s national “Pothole Index,” with only Arkansas lower in urbanized area road maintenance spending per highway mile in need of repair. The report finds that poor highway maintenance costs Marylanders $166 million annually for added car repairs, the equivalent of a $711 per car hidden tax.

Of the $237 million in flexible federal funds spent on highways by Maryland in 1996-97, only $73 million, or 31%, went to road maintenance, while $164 million, or 69%, was spent on new construction. “Instead of fixing existing roads in need of repair, the State Highway Administration puts too many dollars into new and wider roads. They’re moving forward to spend $200 million to enlarge two-lane MD 32 through Western Howard County’s farms into a massive new freeway,” said Cheryl Cort, a planner with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “These new roads too often fuel sprawl, boost driving, and hurt the Chesapeake Bay with increased runoff and air pollution.”

“The Baltimore Long Range Transportation Plan proposed for adoption this month would devote another $3 billion to highway expansion but leave the region’s citizens with worse transportation choices, more congestion, and even more potholes,” said Michael Replogle, federal transportation director at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Widening roads won’t solve these problems and undermines smart growth. The state should invest in strategies that renew older communities and reduce traffic growth.”

“Maryland got a 29% increase in Federal transportation funding in TEA-21, making $300 million a year available in 1999 for road repairs. The state must spend the dollars it has in hand to maintain existing roads before looking at increasing the gasoline tax to pay for new highways,” said Al Barry, Chairman of the Committee on the Region of the Citizens Planning and Housing Association.

The report, Potholes and Politics 1998, was released today by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, a Washington, DC based non-profit group, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Environmental Defense Fund, the Citizens Planning and Housing Association, the Baltimore Urban League, and 1000 Friends of Maryland.