support also comes from

In its report, Washington, D.C.-based research group TRIP identifies 100 transportation challenges on Texas roads. The problems range from traffic congestion to pavement deterioration and deficient bridges. Of those issues, the study found 17 in the Houston area.

Roger Hord with the Texas Good Roads & Transportation Association says now that the problems have been identified, something needs to be done to fix them.

“We’ve gone through the process of doing nothing. We’re paying for that alternative right now. We have to do something. The plans are out there to get done. All we need, in my view, is additional revenue to address them to the benefit to all the motorists and the economy of Houston.”

According to the report, bad roads cost Texans more than $23 billion each year stemming from crashes, vehicle repair and maintenance, lost time and wasted fuel.

With the state Legislature’s reluctance to spend money on anything but the most urgent matters, TRIP Research Director Frank Moretti says education is key.

“I think by helping the public and ultimately their elected officials understand these challenges and then you begin that discussion, and help elected officials ultimately recognize that the cost of not doing anything in terms of improving transportation investment is actually going to be a bad investment for the state because it’s going to cost you more.”

The report lists a segment on Interstate-45, the North Freeway, from I-610 to the Beltway here in Houston, as the second-biggest transportation challenge in Texas.