Los Angeles Has The Worst Roads In The Nation (Tell Us Something We Don't Already Know)

Have we told you how many rims we've cracked as a result of local potholes? TRIP, a national transportation research organization, feels our pain, calling L.A.'s roads the worst in the nation and reporting that torn up asphalt, along with congestion and other poor road conditions, cost the average Los Angeles driver $2,462 (enough for a new set of wheels). Yep, we beat out Philly, New York, D.C. and those other pothole havens on the East Coast.

The cost is the result of "higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays," according to the Washington, D.C. group's report. Statewide it ads up to $40 billion, TRIP states.

The organization found that 92 percent of area roads -- despite Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's vow to fix potholes -- are "in poor or mediocre condition," according to a TRIP statement.

The group says that the worst roadways in the region include Highland Avenue from Santa Monica Boulevard to Franklin Avenue and the 5 freeway from Beach Boulevard in Buena Park to the Los Angeles County Line. Also on its list of bad roads: Santa Monica Boulevard between Centinela Avenue and the San Diego (405) Freeway in West L.A. and Venice Boulevard between Lincoln and Sawtelle boulevards in Venice and Mar Vista.

TRIP says the state of California is short nearly $11 billion, money it would take to help get roads up to par.

"We are short upwards of $10 billion annually to meet our transportation needs," states Mark Watts, director of the nonprofit Transportation California organization. "This report shows that our failure to close this transportation investment deficit is costing us nearly four times that much."