Overview

• California's highway system dropped from 47th to 49th in the Reason Foundation's Annual Highway Report, ranking ahead of only Alaska.
• The state ranks among the worst in key pavement condition categories, including urban arterial and rural interstate roads.
• Despite having some of the highest gas taxes and highway spending in the nation, California's investment has not led to significant improvements in road quality or congestion.
• Traffic congestion in California remains high, with drivers spending an average of 60 hours annually in traffic, ranking the state 44th in this category.
• The report contrasts California's inefficiency with states like Utah and Virginia, which achieve better road conditions and rankings through cost-effective spending and data-driven project selection.