Report: Oklahoma Roads Cost Each Driver More Than $780 A Year

A national transportation research group says Tulsa and Oklahoma City roads are at the top of the list for Vehicle Operating Costs or VOC for short.

In its report, "Bumpy Roads Ahead: America's Roughest Rides and Strategies to Make our Roads Smoother" TRIP says nearly half of the roads in both Oklahoma communities have pavement in poor condition. TRIP is a non-profit organization that studies transportation issues.

TRIP says in terms of vehicle operating costs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California tops the list. Tulsa is second with VOC of $784 and Oklahoma City is fourth with VOC of $782.

"States depend on investment from the Highway Trust Fund to help preserve and maintain the roads and bridges that carry our families and our economy. We cannot continue to ignore the very real crisis facing our national transportation system without a long-term, sustainable funding source for the Highway Trust Fund," said Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The TRIP report says 27 percent of the nation's major urban roads -- Interstates, freeways and other arterial routes -- have pavement that is in substandard condition and provides an unacceptably rough ride to drivers.

It says 47 percent of roads in Oklahoma City and 46 percent of roads in Tulsa are in poor condition.

TRIP's Oklahoma Roads Report