WASHINGTON 鈥擬aryland鈥檚 interstate highways rank among the most congested and the most heavily traveled in the country, according to a new report.
TRIP, a D.C.-based transit organization, issued the report聽Monday — timing that syncs with聽the 60th anniversary of America鈥檚 interstate system, which happens this week.
According to the report, Maryland placed second to California for both congestion and daily travel per lane mile. Virginia ranked sixth for daily travel per lane mile.
Carolyn Bonifas Kelly, the organization鈥檚 associate director of research and communications, said three-quarters of Maryland鈥檚 urban interstate highways are congested during peak times.
She also said that 13 percent of Maryland鈥檚 interstate lanes were not in very good condition.
鈥淎t this point, on a nationwide basis, the estimate is that it would take about $189 billion to make all the needed repairs,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淏ut only a fraction of that amount is available to make repairs and improvements.鈥�
Kelly said that interstate system designs with a minimum of four lanes, paved shoulders and medians barriers tend to have lower fatality rates than other roadways.She said making needed improvements to the interstate system could lower fatality rates.
Here are the rankings:
Percentage of urban highways congested during peak times
- California, 85 percent
- Maryland, 75 percent
- 聽New Jersey, 73 percent
- Rhode Island, 63 percent
- Delaware, 63 percent
- Massachusetts, 62 percent
- Hawaii, 60 percent
- Connecticut, 60 percent
- Florida, 59 percent
- Minnesota, 56 percent
Daily travel time per lane mile
- California, 19,424
- Maryland, 18,425
- Connecticut, 15,391
- Rhode Island, 15,281
- Florida, 15,088
- Virginia, 14,714
- Hawaii, 14,616
- Kentucky, 14,538
- New Jersey, 14,498
- Massachusetts, 14,496
