National research group says PA rural roads unsafe and among worst in nation
A national transportation research group, The Road Information Program (TRIP), released a report showing that Pennsylvania’s rural roadways are becoming increasingly unsafe. The report, “Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America’s Heartland,”states that Pennsylvania leads the nation in the percentage of rural bridges that are structurally deficient and sixth in the nation in the number of rural roadway fatalities.
TRIP’s executive director Will Wilkins said, “The safety and quality of life in America’s small communities and rural areas and the health of the nation’s economy ride on our rural transportation system. This backbone of the heartland allows mobility and connectivity for millions of rural Americans and provides crucial links from farm to market, moves manufactured and energy products, and provides access to countless tourist and recreational destinations.”
“The condition of Pennsylvania’s transportation system has reached a point where it is detrimental to our quality of life,” said Jason Wagner, managing director of the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association. “This report corroborates and expands on what we already know, especially as it relates to highway safety. Pennsylvania’s policymakers will have the opportunity this fall to address the state’s transportation funding problem and provide for improved safety, as well as congestion relief.”
To view the full TRIP press release click here.
TRIP is a national non-profit transportation research group based in Washington, D.C.
September 23, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Am pleased to see the various groups getting out front with
statements of support. Also pleased to see TRIP involvement again.
It would be helpful on the rural bridge storoes and reports to have
the Farm Bureau make some noise in support and find some examples where
farmers had detours getting their products to market. This always will
get you coverage.
Good luck…Bob H
in huntingdon county we have roads that are washboards,missing guardrails,damaged guardrails,and in places where there are no guardrails at all on state routes and pendot is fully aware of the situation and they don’t care.
September 19, 2011 at 5:15 pm