Arkansas Ranks 17th in the Nation in Highway Performance and Cost-Effectiveness

Arkansas’ highway system ranks 17^th in the nation in overall cost-effectiveness and condition, according to the Annual Highway Report by Reason Foundation. This is an eight-spot decrease from 9^th in the previous report.

Arkansas ranks in the bottom 10 in both rural fatality rate and urban fatality rate. Arkansas’

2.06 rural fatality rate is roughly twice as high as peer states Missouri and Louisiana. Arkansas’ 1.07 urban fatality rate is significantly higher than both Missouri and Louisiana.

In safety and performance categories, Arkansas ranks 37^th in overall fatality rate, 14^th in structurally deficient bridges, 5^th in traffic congestion, 37^th in urban Interstate pavement condition, and 33^rd in rural Interstate pavement condition.

On spending, Arkansas spends $35,410 per state-controlled mile of highway. It ranks 9^th in total spending per mile and 14^th in capital and bridge costs per mile.

Arkansas’ best rankings are in administrative disbursements per mile (4^th) and traffic congestion (5^th).

Arkansas’ worst rankings are in rural fatality rate (47^th) and urban fatality rate (44^th).

Arkansas’ drivers waste 5.16 hours a year in traffic congestion, ranking 5^th in the nation.

Arkansas’ state-controlled highway mileage makes it the 16^th largest highway system in the country.

“To improve in the report’s overall rankings, Arkansas could reduce its rural fatality rate and urban fatality rate,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, lead author of the Annual Highway Report and senior managing director of transportation policy at Reason Foundation. “Arkansas’ low overall spending remains a strength of the system.”

Additional Analysis

Compared to nearby states, Arkansas’ overall highway performance is better than Oklahoma (ranks 36^th) but worse than Tennessee (ranks 10^th), and Mississippi (ranks 15^th).

Arkansas ranks behind some comparable states, like Missouri (ranks 3^rd) but ahead of others such as Louisiana (ranks 35^th).

Arkansas is a high-performing state with many strengths. Its system is very efficient, traffic congestion is low, and bridge quality is good. Pavement quality varies with urban arterials ranking highly, urban Interstates ranking lower, and rural highways in between. What is preventing Arkansas from a top-10 ranking? The state’s fatality rate is high in all three categories (overall, rural, and urban). If Arkansas is able to reduce its fatality rate, even slightly, it will improve in the rankings.

Arkansas is one of five states that have rural fatality rates of 2.0 or higher per 100 million vehicle-miles. Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, and Alaska are the others.

Arkansas is one of 11 states that have urban fatality rates of 1.0 or higher per 100 million vehicle-miles. New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Alaska, Tennessee, Hawaii, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas are the others.
Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report measures the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-controlled highways in 13 categories, including pavement condition, traffic congestion, structurally deficient bridges, traffic fatalities, and spending (capital, maintenance, administrative, total) per mile.