“In addition to causing a headache for motorists, Alabama’s transportation chokepoints stifle economic development and growth at a time when it is desperately needed. Alabama can’t get where it needs to go – in both a literal and an economic sense – without an efficient transportation system” said Will Wilkins, executive director of TRIP.

As part of reversing the current economic downturn and facilitating long-term economic growth, Alabama will need to address its numerous surface transportation chokepoints, TRIP points out.

Enhancing critical segments of Alabama’s surface transportation system will boost the state’s economy in the short-term by creating jobs in construction and related fields, according to TRIP.

In the long term, the organization says, these improvements will enhance economic competitiveness by improving access and mobility, which will stimulate sustained job growth and improve the quality of life in Alabama.

Additionally, TRIP says, making needed improvements to the state’s transportation system can help boost Alabama’s economy.

The state’s unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent in August 2007 to 9.2 percent in August 2010. A 2007 analysis by the Federal Highway Administration found that every $1 billion invested in highway construction would support approximately 27,800 jobs, including about 9,500 in the construction sector, about 4,300 jobs in industries supporting the construction sector, and about 14,000 other jobs induced in non-construction related sectors of the economy.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) also estimates that each dollar spent on road, highway and bridge improvements results in an average benefit of $5.20 in the form of reduced vehicle maintenance costs, reduced delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, reduced road and bridge maintenance costs and reduced emissions as a result of improved traffic flow.

“One of the most important aspects of improving our highways and bridges is safety,” said Clay Ingram, AAA Alabama spokesperson, in a prepared statement from TRIP. “Increasing mobility and reducing congestion is also important, but saving lives is the best investment we can make for the motorists of Alabama.”