By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
Virginia has the top-ranked highway system in the country, but that doesn’t mean drivers are getting an easy ride.
A new report from the Reason Foundation finds the state delivers strong road conditions while spending less than comparable states, even as congestion and some safety issues continue to frustrate commuters across the commonwealth.
Virginia moved from fourth to first overall in this year’s Annual Highway Report, driven by improvements in pavement conditions, safety and spending efficiency.
Compared to the previous year, the state improved in urban interstate pavement, urban arterial pavement and urban fatality rate, where it climbed 17 spots. It also improved its rankings in maintenance, administrative and other spending categories.
The report’s lead author, Baruch Feigenbaum, told The Center Square those gains helped push Virginia to the top.
“Compared to the previous report, Virginia improved in three road and safety categories and also improved its rankings in three spending categories,” he said.
The report evaluates states across 13 categories, including pavement quality, traffic fatalities, congestion, bridge conditions and spending. Spending accounts for about 31% of the total score.
That cost-effectiveness is a major factor behind Virginia’s ranking.
“The state spends less than comparable states while delivering things like good pavement conditions and relatively low percentages of structurally deficient bridges,” Feigenbaum told The Center Square.
But the report also highlights a gap between overall performance and what drivers experience day to day.
Virginia ranks 38th in urban traffic congestion, with drivers spending about 33 hours a year stuck in delays. Congestion affects multiple regions, not just Northern Virginia.
“Traffic jams aren’t just a problem in Northern Virginia but also in Richmond, Hampton Roads and many communities along I-81,” Feigenbaum said, adding that residents “should not be satisfied” with the state’s approach to congestion.
He said the state could improve by directing more funding to high-traffic corridors where congestion can be reduced.
The report also points to uneven safety outcomes.
Virginia ranks sixth in urban fatality rates but 29th in rural fatality rates, suggesting higher risks on less populated roadways.
“Given Virginia’s geography, the traffic fatality and safety metrics are acceptable, but the rural fatality rate could really be improved,” Feigenbaum told The Center Square.
Even with the top overall ranking, the report emphasizes that Virginia is not leading in every category.
The state does not rank in the bottom 10 in any major category, which helps boost its overall score. At the same time, it lacks many top-ranked finishes, reflecting a system that performs consistently well but still has room to improve.
“Just because the state ranks first overall doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of room for improvement,” Feigenbaum said.
The report also credits Virginia’s use of public-private partnerships with helping control costs, including major highway projects that came in below initial estimates.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
For drivers, the takeaway is mixed.
While Virginia’s highway system ranks among the most efficient in the country, congestion and rural safety still shape what drivers deal with every day.
