Maryland’s road conditions
As of 2008, a full 50% of Maryland’s state-owned major roads had fallen out of good condition, meaning they will now be increasingly expensive to repair and maintain. Only 48% of Maryland’s roads were in good condition, the state in which repairs are least expensive. The condition of 2% of Maryland’s roads was not reported.
Maryland’s highway spending priorities
Between 2004 and 2008, Maryland spent 24% of its highway capital expenditures on road expansion – $281 million each year on average – but only 18% on repair and maintenance of existing roads – $213 million. That 24% of spending on expansion added 47 lane-miles to Maryland’s road network.
Maryland would need to spend $354 million annually for the next twenty years to get the current backlog of poor-condition major roads into a state of good repair and maintain all state-owned roads in good condition. Shifting more funds toward repair would go a long way toward addressing the state’s maintenance needs.
Maryland’s road condition goals
Maryland aims to maintain at least 84% of state-owned roads in “acceptable” or better condition annually. Information about the type of metric the state uses to assess conditions was not publicly available.
For more information about Maryland’s pavement management program, including the source and methodology for the above information, see the appendices of Repair Priorities.
Read more about Maryland’s transportation spending
Smart Transportation Maryland: Save Money and Growth the Economy
This Smart Growth America report provides more extensive analysis of Maryland’s transportation spending priorities and recommendations for how state leaders can make the most of Maryland’s transportation funds.
