California Ranks 49th in National Highway Quality Report Despite High Spending

The latest Annual Highway Report highlights California's deteriorating road conditions, ranking near the bottom for pavement quality, traffic congestion, and cost-effectiveness.

• 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.

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