Bad roads in Reno can cost drivers more than $700 a year in extra car repairs. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray explains a new report finds there are not enough federal funds to fix our roadways.
Almost half of the roads around Reno are in poor condition. That’s according to a study using data collected in 2013 by the Federal Highway Administration.
Meg Ragonese is a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Transportation. She says about half of the agency’s budget comes from the federal government but because of an antiquated gas tax, there’s not enough revenue.
“Since the early 1990s the state and national gas tax has not changed," Ragonese says. "Inflation has eroded approximately 50 percent in the construction and preservation activities on the roadways.”
Ragonese says more electric cars on the roads aren’t helping.
“They’re not paying the same gas tax that funds our roadway systems and roadway improvements,” Ragonese says.
The Federal Highway Administration estimates that every dollar spent on road improvements would result in an average savings of more than five dollars in reduced car maintenance costs.
