July 30, 2015 · Exit133

Here's How Much Your City's Crappy Roads Are Costing You

According to Wired, of the roads drivers in the San Francisco and Oakland area contend with, 74% are rated "poor," costing them an average of $1,044 per year in additional maintenance and fuel. That's the most of any major metropolitan area in the US, and way above the national average of 28% for major roads. The extra costs come from repairs, increased maintenance and fuel costs, and shortened life-spans for vehicles on these failing roads.

We've read past estimates that the rate of roads in "poor" or "failed" state in Tacoma neighborhoods ranges from 14% in Northeast Tacoma to 55% in the Central and North End neighborhoods. Those numbers are a bit out of date, but the City is in the process of wrapping up a survey of the condition of Tacoma's roads that will give a more current picture. Don't expect it to be any rosier.

Two propositions that will appear on this November's ballot will give Tacoma voters the chance to decide whether they want to increase utility, property, and sales taxes in the city to pay for improvements to our roads. Estimates are that Tacoma's Prop 3 and Prop 4 would cost the average household under $100 per year. Like so many things, when you compare that to the San Francisco numbers it doesn't sound like so much... maybe?

Read original on Wired →

Filed under: Transportation, Elsewhere, Roads

3 comments

Ronnie Bush July 30, 2015

What guarantee is there that all taxes will go directly to road repairs. I've lived in north end for 38 years. I've voted for additional taxes before. The blown tire and more recently, bent tire rim, on my 2014 vehicle say roads haven't improved much. There has to be a directive attached to props for guarantee and a plan to show what areas are going to be addressed. Michigan and another state have road repair materials proven to stand up longer, why aren't we looking into better materials. Takes 5 workers to do one pothole over and over and over on Proctor St bridge, can't be the cost that's stopping us.
john alvord July 30, 2015

Well said, Ronnie. I am not averse to paying $100 a year for a few years, butonly ifthere is some assurance that it will be done promptly, expertly and with a minimum of needless labor(I..e. fourguys looking in the hole while anotherworks).
JDHasty July 31, 2015

If there are not legally binding constraints on what any new revenues can be spent on that include items it cannot be spent on - vote against any tax increase. Actually the new tax vote should legally constrain all "transportation" revenues until our Overall Pavement Condition Index is at least in the range of good/fair. As most of you are well aware, I forecast this latest push for new revenues a month or so before the rollout of trial balloons by the Mayor. I didn't just one day say: Hey a new push to top off the Mayor and Council Special Projects slush fund is about to start. I was given a heads up by people within the Transportation industry that Tacoma may have "found" a way to fund this, that and the other thing.