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Report: Nevada roads among best in the nation
Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
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After learning they are among the worst drivers in the nation, Las Vegas motorists can take comfort in another report that says Nevada has some of the best roads in the country.
The Silver State took the No. 15 spot in a ranking of states based on 2008 highway performance and cost effectiveness released Thursday by the libertarian Reason Foundation.
The state has been moving up the ranks — after placing 18th in 2007 and 20th in 2006 — but is still down from its ranking earlier in the decade. Nevada placed 13th in 2000 and ninth in 2005.
The foundation says the nation’s highways are in the best condition it has seen in the 19 years it has done the report, a result of less people driving because of the recession while states and the federal government spend more money on roads.
Nevada did especially well in certain categories, taking first place in the condition of rural interstates, the condition of bridges and the width of rural lanes.
But the state placed low on the list for fatality rates and administrative costs, ranking 41st in both.
The top five spots overall went to North Dakota, Montana, Kansas, New Mexico and Nebraska. Taking the bottom spots were New York, Hawaii, California, Alaska and Rhode Island.
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i can vouch that california roads are among the worst. i have seen better roads in europe compared to parts of los angeles, long beach and the OC. the funny thing is in so cal you pay almost 30 cents more per gallon of gas and that money is supposed to go towards fixing the roads. instead, the politicians spend it on illegal aliens.
one of the reasons we recently moved here is the roads are seemingly in good condition.
go to the UK
$10 a gallon of gas + road tax, plus high insurance costs, plus major potholes, fixed speed cameras, average speed cameras, road humps, hand held radar traps, more holes, broken surfaces, road works with no-one working, tax disc cameras, etc etc
a website to show you how poor UK roads are
http://www.potholes.co.uk/stories/search...
and this website only shows the tip of the iceberg, really it amazes me how people in the USA complain yet they are incredibly lucky when you compare USA to other countries of high taxes and poor service
http://www.lapotholes.com/
A lot of rock and sand are available in Nevada for road construction.
Harry Reid has helped get needed road financing over the years, and rejects Angle's idea of turning Nevada roads into private for profit tollways.
Mr. Hansen: I like this story, especially your lead. Thank you.
Las Vegas doesn't deserve the best roads and the worst health care and education system. 99.9% of the people in Las Vegas can't read (they can't read the speed limit signs), and they buy cars without turn signals and sideview mirrors...but have the best roads.
markp,Dosen't sound like it's worth it,from what u said I probably would have hung it up a long time ago.Ill trade u 1 drive-by shooting for 5 potholes.deal?
The roads are good because they want the tourists to be able to drive in from all the neighboring states to gamble :-)
i wonder if they ever re-paved that road on the way to the silverbowl, guess it would be russell off of boulder highway.the last few times i drove over it i could barely go 20 mph and it was rougher then the mint 500 off-road desert racing course.
The DOT has WAY too big of a budget. This is such a low priority, especially when you consider that we're the worst in many categories that are actually important (education, etc.). It shows that there is money in the budget for certain things, we just have to cut back in other areas.
All I have to say is we BETTER have some of the best roads. We are the city of the orange cones and detours. I've been here 10 years and can't remember one single month there wasn't construction on the I-15 tourist cooridor.
Apparently, they didn't check out the roads in Washoe County - truly third world conditions in the Reno-Sparks area - buckled sidewalks, grass growing in the streets, and absolutely no synchronization of traffic signals. Southern Nevada has great infrastructure due in large part to more than 20 years of a healthy economy. Now that we're in a great recession, let's hope they find the money to maintain it properly.
"Nevada did especially well in certain categories, taking first place in the condition of rural interstates, the condition of bridges and the width of rural lanes."
Note they referred to the rural roads like in Lander and Churchill counties. Clark County is of course an urban area. I wonder what percentage of the DOT funds are spent here in Clark County? Based on population, does the DOT spend an equitable amount in Clark County, or is their priority the rural roads?
these roads must be in Reno, CC and Ely. The Las Vegas Roads are in such bad consition, that no politician here could get re-elected in any other state in the union. It's been 15 years since Paradise Road has been paved for more than one block. I-15 is a disgrace. US 95 is a disgrace. Flamingo Rd a disgrace. downtown essentially unpaved.
One billion for a bridge to connect Reno and CC [both dying cities] and yet the Boulder City bypass which connects LV and Phoenix can't even get to the planning stage.
Well I guess the Libertarian "Reason" Foundation is basing their rankings on what state can do the least for the majority of its citizens.
So we have great roads! Who cares! Half the town is empty now! We have the highest unemployment rate! The highest forclosure rate, the worst education system in the nation! Nevada always ranks first of the worst in National Polls!! Who do we thank for that? Oh but we have great roads! What are your priorities Mr Reid? Who benefits most from this? Just sayin
Thank Harry Reid for getting the money for our good road system. If Angle were senator, we would get nothing for the roads...it's not in the constitution!!!
Amber,the people who benifited the most were the one's who used the whole strecth of road to the most advantage.
Positive news - THANK YOU. =)
After spending nearly a year in Texas, Las Vegas roads were a welcome feel.
The economy will bounce back. Government spending created many jobs in the Great Depression, Hoover Dam for example. Some view that as socialism, others as a wise public investment -- a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
Ahh the people attacking the bridge from Reno to Carson City is like music to my ears because of pure jealousy. Who the heck said Reno was a dying city. It's not dying any more than Vegas is..
If NV has the best roads, the rest of the country must have roads in name only. But, I do agree with the worst drivers part.
The thing that really worries me is if the "anti-everything" hater crowd really does start to get their way... our roads will get worse, our educational institutions will further deteriorate, crime rate will grow, etc. Their version of a "free" society basically means, "you're on your own"... "everyone for themselves". Is that what we want?
We're about to find out via the next few elections exactly where we're headed, cause there are some major budgetary issues that simply have to be addressed at all levels.
Yeah, but in the UK no one has to drive anywhere Mark P. The taxes for gas go into the excellent public transportation system, whereas in America, you're practically forced to have a car.
Best Roads + Worst Drivers = DANGER
Well duhhh , what you have is certain politicians in office who happen to be related to ,or go to the same church as certain contractors who need the work. Thus = roadwork 365 days a year.
The best roads in the world won't help our safety when half the drivers in this state were riding a burro until they snuck accross the border. Thank you harry reid!