NC Strategic Scorecard
7.1.2 Highway Quality

Target: Rank among top 10 states in nation in highway quality ratings (less than 90% of US avg. highway fatality rate)
Actual: 113% of US average
US Rank 2004: 31st (up from 32nd in 1995)
SE Rank 2004: 3rd (3rd in 1995)
SE Region: AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN VA WV   Updated 4/12/06
 
Primary Performance Indicator

Highway Fatality Rate (Fatalities /100 Million VMT)
 Performance Trend:
Stable
The trend depicts the degree to which actual performance has approached the target in recent years.
Comments
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NC’s highway fatality rate, an approximate reflection of highway quality and conditions, has gradually improved over the last ten years.
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 Since 1995, NC’s national highway safety rank has improved slightly from 32nd to 31st, but its regional rank has remained unchanged at 3rd.
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 However, NC’s highway fatality rate remains above the national average.
  Definition (What Is Being Measured)
Number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel on highways.
Source: US DOT, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics; Corporation for Enterprise Development, 2003 Development Report Card		 Relevance (Why This Is Important)
With most travel done by automobile and most goods shipped by truck, good highway conditions represent an important indicator of economic competitiveness. The highway fatality rate provides a crude indicator of highway quality and conditions.
 
Other Highlights
North Carolina
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 About 1/3 of NC’s major roads need repair and 45% are congested during peak travel times.
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 In 2003, according to the Federal Highway Administration, NC was 17th in the US and 7th in the SE region in highway condition ratings (Source: The Road Information Program).
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 In 2004, NC was ranked 35th in the US and 8th in the region in the percent of bridges meeting national standards (Source: US DOT National Highway Safety Administration, Deficient Bridges by State & Highway System & National Transportation Database).
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 In 2002, NC spent 1.3% of personal income on highways, only the 32nd highest percent in the nation and 7th highest in the SE region (Source: US DOT, FHA, Highway Statistics).
• In 2003, NC had the 21st highest gas tax in the US and the 3rd highest in the SE (behind Florida and West Virginia). Over 78% of NC’s roads are state-controlled, the 2nd highest state control ratio in the nation.
  
Other
• In 2002, NC spent $349.45 per capita on state highways and local roads, the 31st highest investment in the US and the 4th highest in the SE (Source: US DOT, FHA, Highway Statistics). Poor payment conditions and congested highways costs NC motorists an average of $1,270 in Charlotte area, $1,080 per year in Raleigh area and $971 in the Triad (Source: The Road Information Program).
Southeast Region
National
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 From 1990 to 2003, vehicle travel on US higways increased by 35%, yet 34% of our major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, 27% of our bridges are structurally deficient or functionaly obsolete and 36% of our major urban roads are congested (Source: The Road Informaiton Program).
Global
  Data Links
US DOT, National Highway Safety Administration
US DOT, Federal Highway Administration
Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M Univ
  
The Road Information Program
Corporation for Enterprise Development
NC Department of Transportation
Goal 7.1: Build and Maintain a Safe, Efficient and Balanced Transportation System