Ross: Costs of poor urban roads adding up for South Carolinians

Citizens and public infrastructure across South Carolina suffered unprecedented damage from the historic storm last month. Neglected maintenance and erosion combined to create a real crisis.

Our highway system was already in a state of disrepair before the floods. The state Transportation Department estimated that it needed $70.5 billion through 2040 to maintain and improve the state’s transportation system, but it will have only $27.6 billion to meet that need — a $43 billion shortfall.

Congress has the power to help with these shortfalls by passing a long-term transportation funding bill this week.

Two new national reports shed light on the impact deteriorating urban pavement has on S.C. drivers — the “Bumpy Roads Ahead: America’s Roughest Rides and Strategies to Make our Roads Smoother” report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AAA and the INRIX/Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard.

Both reports found that South Carolina’s deteriorating urban roads create significant congestion delays and vehicle operating costs. The INRIX report found that urban areas of all sizes are experiencing challenges similar to those seen in the early 2000s — increases in population and jobs and therefore increases in congestion.

Roads and bridges that are deficient, congested or lack desirable safety features cost S.C. motorists $3 billion annually due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays. This breaks down to between $1,300 and more than $1,500 per driver in our state’s major urban areas every year.

While the economy has benefited from the dramatic increase in South Carolina’s population — an astounding 39 percent since 1990 — the lack of investment in our state’s transportation needs is having the opposite effect.

The Senate and House have passed separate highway bills, but there is work to be done. While the Senate bill authorizes modest funding increases, it only generates enough revenue for three years; the House bill generates funding for six years but at flat investment levels. Negotiators need to reach an agreement on a bill that provides the maximum benefits to American families and businesses.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 11:48 AM.