Press release from Reason Foundation:

North Dakota does the best job maintaining its roads and bridges and New Jersey has the worst-performing, least cost-effective highway system in the nation, according to an annual Reason Foundation study that measures each state's road conditions and expenditures.

The Reason Foundation’s 17th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems, released today, measures the condition of all state-owned roads and highways from 1984 to 2006. The study calculates the effectiveness and performance of each state in 12 different categories, including pavement condition, bridge condition, traffic fatalities, congestion, highway maintenance costs, and administrative costs. Here is a sample of some of the report's data:

Idaho - 14th
Idaho ranked 14th in overall performance and cost-effectiveness. In last year’s rankings, Idaho ranked 10th overall. Idaho is 14th in urban interstate congestion, with 35.96 percent congested. The state ranks 24th in rural interstate condition and 41st in urban interstate condition. Idaho ranks 14th in deficient bridges—19.05 percent of the state’s bridges are deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Idaho is 36th in the nation in fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Washington - 39th
Washington ranked 39th in overall performance and cost-effectiveness. In last year’s rankings, Washington ranked 32nd overall. Washington is 24th in urban interstate congestion, with 42.76 percent congested. The state ranks 42nd in rural interstate condition and 45th in urban interstate condition. Washington ranks 32nd in deficient bridges—26.18 percent of the state’s bridges are deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Washington is 13th in the nation in fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

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