WHY IT MATTERS
Deteriorating roads are straining state and local budgets nationwide, forcing transportation agencies to prioritize emergency repairs over long-term infrastructure investment. With gas tax revenue stagnant for three decades and construction costs rising, officials warn the maintenance gap continues to widen despite recent federal spending increases.
The shortfall affects both urban corridors and rural highways, leaving roughly one in five road miles in poor condition nationwide. For drivers, the costs extend beyond inconvenience—tire blowouts, suspension damage, and bent rims add unexpected expenses at a time when household budgets face pressure from fluctuating fuel prices.
WHAT HAPPENED
Transportation agencies across multiple states have launched accelerated pothole repair campaigns this spring, deploying work crews to address damage from winter freeze-thaw cycles before the summer driving season.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced in April that road crews had patched more than 18,000 miles of potholes since January, pledging completion of remaining repairs by the end of May. New York City reported filling 100,000 potholes in the first 100 days under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Baltimore’s Department of Transportation repaired 32,000 potholes between late February and mid-March, with plans to address another 25,000 by mid-July.
The surge in repair activity comes as resident complaint reports climb sharply. New York City received approximately 19,400 pothole reports through April in fiscal 2026, an 88 percent increase over the same period in fiscal 2025.
BY THE NUMBERS
Federal transportation data reveals minimal improvement in overall road quality over 30 years. The share of roadways in acceptable condition peaked at 91 percent in 1999, declining to approximately 80 percent in recent years.
The five jurisdictions with the worst road conditions in 2024—the District of Columbia, Rhode Island, Hawaii, California, and New Mexico—reported poor-condition roadways ranging from 34 to 89 percent of total miles. The five best-performing states—Kansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Wyoming, and Vermont—maintained acceptable road conditions on 94 to 97 percent of miles.
Baltimore crews repaired more than 134,000 potholes in 2025 alone. The city aims to resurface 10 lane miles alongside its pothole-filling campaign through mid-July.
The federal gas tax has remained at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993, contributing to a revenue shortfall as inflation eroded purchasing power and fuel-efficient vehicles reduced consumption.
ZOOM OUT
The funding challenge reflects structural constraints in transportation finance. State and local governments historically relied on gas tax revenue for road maintenance, but that model has eroded as vehicle fuel efficiency improved and electric vehicle adoption increased.
President Donald Trump proposed temporarily suspending the federal gas tax in response to fuel price increases during the Iran conflict, a move that would further reduce available maintenance dollars.
According to research from TRIP, a nonprofit transportation policy organization, limited resources force state agencies into a triage approach. Officials prioritize emergency repairs and high-traffic corridors while deferring comprehensive reconstruction projects.
Some jurisdictions are exploring technology solutions to manage the backlog more efficiently. Agencies are testing artificial intelligence-powered monitoring systems, road sensors, and camera-equipped vehicles to identify pavement damage and coordinate faster responses. These tools aim to extend the effectiveness of constrained budgets rather than replace the need for increased funding.
WHAT’S NEXT
Seasonal repair campaigns will continue through the summer as agencies work to address the backlog before winter weather compounds existing damage. Baltimore’s transportation director indicated the city is pursuing deeper partnerships with state government to secure larger funding allocations for infrastructure investment beyond stop-gap pothole filling.
The broader challenge of closing the maintenance funding gap remains unresolved at both state and federal levels. Without adjustments to revenue structures or significant increases in dedicated transportation funding, officials expect the cycle of deferred maintenance and emergency repairs to persist.