[shragon]

[ScBlacksunshine]

Hmmm, so pretty much all the major cities have jacked up roads..what a surprise..It's nice to see our governement devote so much money to this kind of problem

[gdnyc]

Bad roads + run flats = dissatisfied E90 owner

[DFW_M]

Notice none of TX roads is on the list and most hicks with big a$$ trucks live here... That bastard is putting all the $$$ into his home state

[Taittinger]

Surprised the roads around the NJ area did not rank higher.

[magmd]

hahah...I hate dumb surveys like this. I want to know what kind of criteria they used to compare bad roads!

I really find it hard to believe that San Diego and Los Angeles both rated considerably higher than Boston. I have lived in all 3 cities...and NO WAY boston has nicer roads than SoCal. Those roads are JACKED UP!!!

[shragon]

here's the article from the sj mercury news:

Bumpy S.J. roads worst in nation

By Gary Richards
Mercury News

San Jose, we're No. 1 -- but we don't want to be.

The South Bay has the bumpiest roads in the nation -- more potholes, rough rides, cracked pavement -- than any urban region in the country, according to a national study released today.

That distinction costs motorists here $705 in repairs a year, the biggest bill in the country and nearly double the national average of $383.

``No surprise,'' said Jeff Slavich, owner of Tires Unlimited in Campbell. ``We see an awful lot of cars come in with damaged tires, wheels and suspensions because of the bumpy roads. It's great for business.''

You thought cities in snow belt areas would have the worst roads? Not true. Five of the bumpiest seven are in California, with Los Angeles second, the San Francisco-Oakland region at No. 3, followed by Kansas City, New Orleans (pre-Katrina), San Diego and Sacramento.

Turns out that it's not the snow or ice that causes trouble. It's the number of cars, SUVs and big rigs.

``Usually, in the Northern states, you may see more extreme examples like big potholes and sinkholes than in cities with temperate climates,'' said Frank Moretti, research director for TRIP, the non-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C., that did the study. ``But California has a lot of old pavement that gets tremendous use and is inadequately maintained.

``We see that all over the map in your state.''

Every year, the Federal Highway Administration requires state and local agencies to conduct vibration tests on main roads. That data for 2004 was analyzed by TRIP, which specializes in highway transportation issues.

The study evaluated conditions on freeways, highways and city streets in regions with 500,000 or more residents. Two-thirds -- or 66 percent -- of South Bay roads are in poor condition, edging out runner-up Los Angeles at 65 percent. That's more than twice the national average of 26 percent.

An additional 26 percent of San Jose area roads are in mediocre condition, and only 8 percent are rated as good or fair.

Not enough money

More than 400 of the city's 2,300 miles of streets are in need of resurfacing, according to San Jose's Department of Transportation, a figure that will grow to 700 miles by 2011 unless there's an infusion of cash. More than $30 million is needed annually to perform adequate levels of repair work, preventive maintenance and resurfacing each year.

But for the past five years, San Jose's street maintenance program has been severely under-funded, getting about $15 million a year, or half of what it needs.

``Not only has the funding shortfall impacted the condition of our streets by greatly restricting the amount of repair, maintenance and resurfacing we performed,'' said Kevin O'Connor, a deputy director with the city's transportation department, ``it has also created a significant backlog of streets that need costly resurfacing or reconstruction.''

The cost to repave those 400-plus miles of streets is about $130 million. And to bring all of the city's roads into good condition would cost about $210 million.

There is a glimmer of smoothness. The state has doubled funding for repaving from $326 million in 2005 to $666 million this year, and has spent the summer repaving Highway 101 and Interstate 280 through the South Bay, sections of Highway 17, Highway 92 along the Peninsula and Highway 152 east of Gilroy. During the next decade, Caltrans intends to repave 13,592 of the 18,453 miles of lanes throughout the state.

A 1996 countywide sales tax reaped $90 million for repaving work in cities in Santa Clara County, and most expressways were resurfaced along with key city streets such as Saratoga Avenue.

No surprise to drivers

Motorists, both here and out of state, notice the rough spots.

``I can tell when I reach the California-Oregon border,'' said Kelly Danner, 54, who moved from California to Grants Pass, Ore., five years ago. ``California's roads are bumpy, uneven, with potholes. I left California to get away from the traffic, the crumbling roads and all those people.''

Sigh, said the Rev. Peter Pabst, president of Nativity Schools of San Jose, who calls Virginia Street between Bird and First streets near his schools ``amazingly bumpy.''

It's so bad, he says, that ``Virginia rattles dentures.''

Contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@mercurynews. com or (408) 920-5335.

cali roads in general are pretty bad though. i always find it funny when i'm on i-80 heading to reno and right when you cross the nevada border line, the road is so much better.

[Ryan@Motorwerks]

Originally Posted by dr325i

Notice none of TX roads is on the list and most hicks with big a$$ trucks live here... That bastard is putting all the $$$ into his home state

And that upsets YOU because...

[Rata87]

Bah.... try mexican roads...... lol.....

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by magmd

hahah...I hate dumb surveys like this. I want to know what kind of criteria they used to compare bad roads!

I really find it hard to believe that San Diego and Los Angeles both rated considerably higher than Boston. I have lived in all 3 cities...and NO WAY boston has nicer roads than SoCal. Those roads are JACKED UP!!!

they bury peope under the roads in boston for doing dumb surveys like this..

[shadye90]

Hahaha..I KNEW! New York had 2 be on that list somewhere..The BQE, Grand Central PKwy (esp by Laguardia Apt coming back from the Strip) to name a few...

[windnsea00]

San Diego freeways are pretty good for the most part but some towns could use some repavement, especially mine! LA freeways are pretty bad overall and it's always pleasant once you get into OC going south as the roads really smooth out.

[Nikki]

no where in florida because we dont' have plows to tear up the road and we aren't lazy like cali haha.

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by Nikki

no where in florida because we dont' have plows to tear up the road and we aren't lazy like cali haha.

Funny enough CA use to be known for having fantastic quality back a few decades but then it went to hell.

[findtom]

Any of you guys ever driven on roads in Quebec? I would think there are 3rd world countries with better roads than we have here.

[Brunotheboxer]

how about the worst road name in the world:

and how about this beauty.


man do i hate winter.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by 335e90

And that upsets YOU because...

because other people that pay taxes the same as I do do not have the privilege of good roads because of...
Sad, sad, sad...

[shragon]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

how about the worst road name in the world:

[Pedal2Floor]

For those of you who have lived in the Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT) do you ever remember a time while growing up until present day when there was no road construction in the area?

I swear from as long as I can remember, maybe 7 or 10 years old till this present day I do not remember ever driving on I-95 without some work being performed on it in some manner.

The amount of traffic and trucks in the area mixed with the hot summers and cold winters just rips apart the roads on a yearly basis.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by Pedal2Floor

For those of you who have lived in the Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT) do you ever remember a time while growing up until present day when there was no road construction in the area?

I swear from as long as I can remember, maybe 7 or 10 years old till this present day I do not remember ever driving on I-95 without some work being performed on it in some manner.

The amount of traffic and trucks in the area mixed with the hot summers and cold winters just rips apart the roads on a yearly basis.

PA as well. The NE Extension of the PA Turnpike is similar to I-287 and I-684 in CT, perpetually in repair. There is always a lane closed or a lane shift. It is as if by the time they finish one end, the other is in need of repair.

And as bad as NY, CT or NJ roads are, as least there are many sections that are really nice. I can always tell when I enter PA by the increased road noise and the jarring as I cross the border.

[Luongo]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

how about the worst road name in the world:

Perhapes it was "BROOMRARE LN" photoshopped to look like something else.

[shragon]

Originally Posted by Luongo

Perhapes it was "BROOMRARE LN" photoshopped to look like something else.

another pic: