Report Shows Deficient Roadways Cause More Accidents Than Alcohol
Informative 36-page booklet
The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), in conjunction with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), has released a report which shows the connection between inadequate roads and accidents. It states that more than half of all highway fatalities can be linked to the poor road conditions. This number is greater than the number of fatalities caused by drunk-driving, speeding, and not wearing safety belts. Each year about 22,000 people die at a cost of $217 billion because of the deficient roads. The $217 billion can be translated into a taxpayer cost of $12 billion. The cost of the accidents is more than three times the amount of money the federal government is currently investing in roadway improvements.
In addition to highlighting the needs for infrastructure repair, the report also details several solutions. While several of the suggestions seem simple, the report also notes that significant road improvements are needed in most areas. This includes widening shoulders, replacing or widening narrow bridges, and clearing more space adjacent to roadways.
If you are interested in reading the full report, you can view and download it below.
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In The Red
Informative 8-page booklet
A state's infrastructure is its underlying foundation and basic framework. In New Hampshire, we all rely on our transportation infrastructure every day.
The Safer Roads booklet makes a strong case for the state to develop a financial plan to adequately fund the state's Ten Year Plan. The booklet very simply explains that our highway is now "in the red," showing what trends got us there, what have been their effects on our infrastructure, and what we are likely to see in the future if our past trends continue unaltered into the future. The booklet's conclusion is that the state needs to implement a financial plan to get us out of the red and on the road to a safe, sound transportation system.
We know that the consequences of not assertively formulating a financial plan will be far-reaching and touch on several important aspects of New Hampshire's quality of life. Tourism is the second largest industry in the state of New Hampshire. Further, the highway system is vital to the state's economy. And finally, safety is also impacted by infrastructure investment. The absense of adequate funding will diminish tourism, the economy, and safety in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire needs a long-term solution. Now is the time for choices. The difficult choice is for New Hampshire to develop a strategy that would attach the necessary cost to a transportation service or product in order to sufficiently finance a long-term solution for maintaining the state's infrastructure.
This 8-page booklet contains text and charts that present the case for an increase in infrastructure funding. Please take a moment and read through the history, facts, and statistics, and consider what choice the state's leaders should make in 2009.
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Rebuilding Our Neglected Roads: Sooner is Much Cheaper than Later!
Informative 16-page booklet
Just as there's no free lunch, neither is there a free ride. And nowhere is this more true than in the case of New Hampshire's highways and bridges. With each passing year our roadway infrastructure absorbs millions more vehicle miles, and quite predictably, with each passing year the maintenance tab for our highways and bridges grows larger, both at the state and municipal level. Yet, the funding for this rising maintenance remains essentially flat.
The state's Ten-Year Highway Plan, which is an excellent tool for managing our roads and bridges, is chronically under-funded and it is estimated that one-third of the plan's projects won't get done.
This 16-page booklet contains a lot of information, yet it only scratches the surface of a very large, statewide problem--our transportation infrastructure. Please take a few minutes and leaf through the eye-opening material it contains. And I also invite you to reflect on the profound importance of our highway and bridge system--and on what will happen if we don't figure out a more realistic and responsible financial plan to meet our roads' and bridges' needs.
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Use Caution: Rough Roads Ahead for New Hampshire
Informative Booklet
A Safer Road to Tomorrow coalition has released its new booklet entitled "Use Caution: Rough Roads Ahead for New Hampshire." The purpose of the booklet is to inform you about why many of New Hampshire's roads and bridges are at the end of their functional life span, and what must be done to restore them.
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TRIP Press Conference
Report Card on New Hampshire's Infrastructure
On March 28th The Road Information Program (TRIP) released a report on the condition of New Hampshire's roads and bridges. Councilor Ray Burton, Public Works Chairman Gene Chandler and NHDOT Commissioner Carol Murray spoke of the importance of maintaining New Hampshire's infrastructure. The report "highlights the benefits of an efficient, well-maintained and adequately funded transportation system," said Carol Murray.Click on the links below to view the full report and press release.
TRIP ReportTRIP Grading Scale
Press Release
ASCE Infrastructure Report 2006
Report Card on New Hampshire's Infrastructure
In January 2006, the New Hampshire Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released a report on NH's Infrastructure. The report reviewed and evaluated the condition of many categories such as aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, mass transit and rail, navigable waters, roads, schools, solid waste, and wastewater. The purposes of the report were to research and evaluate the state's infrastructure and ultimately educate the public for the need to invest in our infrastructure. ASCE is a professional organization that is comprised of over 137,000 civil engineers and is recognized as the lead organization for the stewardship of our nation's infrastructure.
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