In the United States, there is a $198 billion backlog in funding for repairs and improvements to the rural transportation system, according to report by TRIP, a private nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues.
The backlog includes $48 billion for rural roadway expansions and enhancements, $53 billion backlog for rural bridge rehabilitation, and $97 billion for rural road and highway rehabilitation.
The organization analyzed a report the U.S. Department of Transportation submitted to Congress earlier this year and evaluated the safety and condition of rural roads and bridges.
“Addressing the significant deficiencies outlined in this report is essential not only for safety but also for ensuring that our rural communities continue to succeed,” John Drake, U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice president for transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain policy, said. “With the support provided by the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), we have an unprecedented opportunity to modernize these vital connections and strengthen the foundation of rural America’s economic future.”
Traffic fatality rates are high on rural roads and were nearly double the fatality rate on all other roads in 2022 with 15,121 fatalities on non-Interstate, rural roads. That’s 2.01 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel.