The 19th Annual Highway Report just released by the Reason Foundation perhaps has Ohio traffic officials scratching their heads and in search of a more meaningful connection between the numbers that rank states on a variety of factors.

For example: The state is near the very bottom in urban interstate congestion, ranked 44th. It ranks low for narrow rural lanes. It sunk further over a one-year period than any other state in the country for cost effectiveness in maintaining its road system. Yet its fatality rate from car accidents is 20th, a surprisingly positive showing in light of its congestion and the perceived worsening of its roads.

The Reason Foundation is a national entity that ranks states' road performance each year across a wide spectrum of considerations. The foundation relies on data from a number of sources, chiefly the Federal Highway Administration.

Ohio's drop in cost effectiveness is especially noteworthy, both for its degree - from 13th to 24th, an 11-slot drop that is the largest of any state - and because the nation as a whole witnessed improved highway performance and better cost controls.

Reason Foundation attributes Ohio's decline in this area predominantly to rising costs in road, maintenance and administrative state spending. In 2008 (the most recent year for complete data), each state-controlled mile of road cost nearly $160,000 to maintain and administer.

The study lists North Dakota as having the most cost-effective system. Rhode Island, Alaska and California bring up the rear.

Related Resource: www.bizjournals.com "Ohio highway spending judged ineffective" September 7, 2010