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* From the Reason Foundation…
Illinois ranks 29th in the nation in overall highway performance and cost-effectiveness in the new 22nd Annual Highway Report published today by Reason Foundation.
The state’s overall ranking has worsened, it was ranked 27th in the previous report.
Illinois ranks 16th in fatality rate, 9th in deficient bridges, 1st (tie) in rural Interstate pavement condition, 1st in urban Interstate pavement condition, and 44th in urbanized area congestion.
On spending, Illinois ranks 39th in total disbursements per mile and 37th in administrative disbursements per mile.
Illinois’s best rankings are rural Interstate pavement condition (tied for 1st), urban Interstate pavement condition (1st), and deficient bridges (9th).
Illinois’ worst rankings are urbanized area congestion (44th), capital-bridge disbursements per mile (43rd), and total disbursements per mile (39th).
Illinois’ state-controlled highway mileage makes it the 12th largest system.
The study is here.
And, by the way, “autonomous” cars (that aren’t autonomous and are a very long way from being much above vaporware) ain’t gonna improve that congestion problem.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:42 pm
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Just drive under the Red Line tracks on Hollywood, going east from Broadway towards Lake Shore Drive.
Comment by Rex Kramer Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:49 pm
So we repair, but we don’t build new.
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:57 pm
I would think autonomous cars would make congestion worse. Instead of people like me taking the CTA to work, we’d be clogging up the streets in our personal little pod.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Our congestion is horrible? We have 50 hours of delay per commuter? How about this. It is 3000 minutes annually, Divide that by 52×5 workdays = 260 work days and take two trips per day. that 520 trips. 3000 minutes /520 trips is about 5 minutes per trip. boo hoo.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:00 pm
https://shift.newco.co/the-third-transportation-revolution-27860f05fa91?gi=66347572ea3d
Very interesting article on what the Lyft founder views as the future of transportation. Obviously need to take it with a grain of salt. Still very insightful
Comment by Trumpy Poo Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:00 pm
** 1st (tie) in rural Interstate pavement condition **
That can’t be possible. What do they consider rural, I-355 ?
Comment by DGD Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Our state funding of roads and the continued aversion to raising the gas tax is only going to worsen congestion as we aren’t able to take on expansion products, and while we have excellent rankings currently, our road quality will fall precipitously, as we are only able to maintain around 300 miles of roads with current funding.
I agree more with the Lyft article than the idea that autonomous vehicles are some far off pipe dream. Unless you live in Chicago, in which case they will be banned until everyone else has already adopted the technology.
Comment by Southern Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:08 pm
I wonder how big of a contribution the Black Top folks make to our politicians. Thats a waste of money.
Comment by Mike Cirrincione Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:09 pm
DGD: might be more about what they consider “interstate.”
Comment by walker Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:12 pm
The amount of time wasted in traffic is ridiculous. I’ve always felt that if policy makers had to be stuck in traffic like the rest of us this problem would be fixed, but most legislators rarely go more than a few miles outside their local communities (which makes sense, they’re meeting with their constituents), and when they do it happens so little they don’t experience the daily frustration.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:14 pm
With gasoline prices being extremely low (in constant dollars) it would seem very reasonable to raise gas taxes by 25 cents a gallon or so to help our road infrastructure.
Comment by striketoo Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Maybe all bridges should become Toll Roads and the revenue most be spent on repairing or building new bridges.
Comment by Mama Retired Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Gas is too expensive here as it is. For many of us who spend time in neighboring states, the roads are better and the gas is cheaper.
Comment by JDuc Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:05 pm
Rich needs to correct his headline, our interstate pavement is great, the rest of our roads are in terrible condition
Comment by Pyrman Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:08 pm
Please consider voting Yes on the Safe Roads Amendment, thank you
Comment by Railrat Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:09 pm
@JDuc
Yeah, maybe gas is a little cheaper. But when you get stuck in Indiana because they don’t plow the snow if there is an event in the evening, it drives you bonkers. And my Hoosier friend just laughs at me like in the Big Lebowski when he asks if they got any leads, “HA! PLOW SNOW! AT THIS HOUR! Oh yeah, they’ll have half the state out to clear the roads. Plow snow, ha ha ha.” Yeah, I’ll take Illinois.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:28 pm
1. Have they checked out Atlanta or Miami where they don’t have rail systems? The traffic is terrible. Think about all the people who commute it to Chicago by train or CTA and put them in cars. That is what Miami and Atlanta have.
2. I hate 4-way stops. They are such a waste of time and gasoline. We should have roundabouts like they have in France. They work beautifully. The intersection at Damen-Fullerton-Elston that they have been weirdly rebuilding at huge expense should have been turned in to a roundabout.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 4:11 pm
You mean that there are repercussions from raiding the road fund to make up for the lack of revenue?
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 4:25 pm
@ 32nd Ward, I wish I would have driven last night. Was on the BNSF Train #1271 last night to the west burbs. At the first stop, Hinsdale, the power just went out. They had us get out, and reboard on the train behind us who pushed our train to past Downers Grove. Got home an hour late.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 4:25 pm
Oh yeah, my monthly train ticket has gone up 60% in 5 years, and they are intending to raise fares again in February.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 4:27 pm
Gonna get worse!! More distribution centers and inter models along 80 have put a lot more trucks on the roads the last 20 yrs. Check out the semi accidents just around Lasalle Ottawa area the last 4 5 months. Need to support safe roads amendment and build some alternative routes. The distribution centers are a good thing for jobs but we need to keep up with our infrastructure or they will go somewhere else also.
Comment by Augie Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 6:16 pm