Monday, March 15, 2010

Kansas is No 1.

That’s the conclusion of a special report on the nation’s highways that is published in the April edition of Reader’s Digest. The study factored safety statistics, pavement condition, bridge condition, congestion-urban freeway, and congestion-urban lane miles in ranking the Kansas highway system the best in the country. Rounding out the top five are Wisconsin, Montana, New Mexico and Utah.

“This announcement is great news for our state, but also serves as a reminder that in order for Kansas to remain competitive, we must maintain our exemplary transportation system,” said Governor Mark Parkinson.

“Strong roads not only protect the well-being of our citizens, they allow us to attract businesses from around the world, create jobs and stimulate the Kansas economy. In order to come out this recession stronger than before, we need to properly fund the services that uphold the foundation of our state and position us to move forward.”

Kansans have benefited significantly from two major transportation programs over the past two decades – the 1989 Comprehensive Highway Program and the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Program.

“It took a 20-year commitment of Kansans and their leaders to build the system we have today, and this ranking substantiates what many of us have long believed about our highways,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Deb Miller.

“Unfortunately, transportation funding has now fallen to 1970s-levels and that won’t allow us to have a system that supports the state’s economic goals, much less earn a top ranking.”

A trucker quoted in the story summed up his thoughts about Kansas roads this way:

“Actually, in Kansas, all the highways are very good. Even the two-lane roads are great: smooth, with shoulders.”

The April issue is now available on newsstands and available on the Reader’s Digest website.