WILMINGTON — A national nonprofit that assesses transportation infrastructure has released its annual report detailing the safety and efficiency of area roadways and its financial impacts on drivers.
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Released Wednesday, the National Transportation Research Nonprofit’s TRIP report found motorists in Wilmington spend $661 per year on vehicular operating costs due to repairs for wear-and-tear and increased fuel expenses, as roughly 46% of major roads in the city are in poor or mediocre condition.
This is higher than the state average of roughly $633 a year spent on vehicle upkeep due to 37% of poorly kept or mediocre roadways; this is up from $484 last year.
The Washington D.C.-based nonprofit assesses safety and congestion on roadways, as well as conditions of bridges. It also tracks funding needed to make improvements in its annual “Keeping North Carolina Mobile” report and looks at available funding that helps alleviate these costs.
The group analyzes data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, among other agencies, to conduct the report.
Since last year’s analysis, some numbers have shifted. The percentage of roads in poor or mediocre conditions rose statewide 2% from last year, and those in good condition decreased by 6 percentage points from 44% to 38% this year.
By comparison, last year Wilmington roads in mediocre or fair conditions were around 41%, up 5% this year. Roads in poor condition also increased, now 19% compared to 16% last year.
Roadway deterioration is caused by a combination of traffic, moisture and climate. Hurricanes also impact infrastructure on the eastern side of the state, as addressed by Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, Natalie English.
“We also face disasters on the coast and in the mountains that some of our folks in the Piedmont areas don’t face,” English said in a press conference Wednesday. “When Hurricane Florence came through, New Hanover County was a complete island because roads had washed out.”
However, the city has repaved many roads in the region in the last year. It maintains more than 400 miles of roadway and spent $5 million updating 30 miles last year, to add to 100 miles already repaved in the last five years.
North Carolina Department of Transportation oversees the rest of the roads in the city.
Costs for Wilmingtonians to maintain their vehicles due to poor or fair road conditions have escalated from last year’s $544 to $661, according to the report.
It also found drivers forked over another $660 annually on gallons of wasted fuel while waiting in traffic. In Wilmington, a driver on average spends 28 hours stalled with 11 gallons of fuel lost annually. The hours-long wait in traffic has increased since last year by two hours.
“Congested roads, highways and bottlenecks choke commuting and commerce and cost North Carolina drivers $4 billion each year in the form of lost time and wasted fuel,” the report indicates.
In addition to longer traffic times, safety is also measured in the report.
“The number of fatalities in North Carolina increased 20 percent from 2019 to 2023, from 1,373 to 1,653, and the state’s fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel increased 21 percent,” according to the data.
Crashes led to $16.9 billion in economic costs in 2022 statewide. The report notes that improper roadway features contribute to a third of fatal traffic crashes — accounting for roughly $5.6 billion.
“Providing a transportation system in North Carolina that keeps people safe, provides reliable access, and is a well-maintained system, will require additional investment in the state’s transportation system,” Rocky Moretti, director of policy and research for TRIP, said in a press conference Wednesday.
The report also susses out bridges in need of repair. Though it doesn’t name them, four Wilmington bridges were found failing (up from one last year), while 40 were found to be in fair condition (down two from last year), and 73 were rated good (up three).
The survey also looks at funding sources to help correct pressing issues. Since 2022, the NCDOT has begun receiving 2% of general sales tax revenue dollars, to gradually increase to 4% in the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year and 6% this fiscal year to help with funding gaps.
NCDOT has faced escalated inflation costs on construction materials — rising 68% since 2021 — and has lost gas tax revenue in recent years due to the increase of electric vehicle purchases. The report indicates that by 2032 to 2033, the general sales tax revenue will increase funding by more than $9 billion for the state agency.
The state also received more than $7 billion in state funds for highway and bridge investments in North Carolina over five years, due to Biden’s infrastructure law. While NCDOT falls short on reinvestment in transportation infrastructure — $341 million short in roadway investments and $39 million for bridges — it’s expected to increase those funding sources in coming years. Specifically, it will see a 17% increase in roadway preservation and 22% more in bridge preservation, the report notes.
The NCDOT recently conducted the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge preservation project that took place during the first half of the year in Wilmington. Southern Road and Bridge installed new riding decks and stringers, suspected to last another 10 years, as part of its $7.1 million contract.
Two months later, the feds announced a $242 million grant to help toward the replacement of the 50-plus-year Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. The movable span — whose parts are becoming obsolete and costs $500,000 or so in annual repairs — is slated to be replaced with a 135-foot fixed overpass, estimated to cost $485 million.
NCDOT also has launched a new website here aimed to keep the public abreast of transportation funding, answering questions about how funding is handled at the state agency and alternative, sustainable sources. The site is complete with an interactive gas tax calculator to compare to other potential funding options as well.
The public can also take a short survey to give NCDOT feedback about road conditions, transportation options, and availability of EV charging stations.
Read the full TRIP report here.
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