Utah County residents have known for years that our road situation is terrible.

Now, statistical research shows it's expensive as well.

TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group recently evaluated Utah's road systems, looking at traffic congestion and calculating wasted time and fuel for each motorist. Of the 25 worst spots in Utah, 13 were in Utah County.

Interstate 15 between Orem's 1600 North and University Parkway was ranked the worst, costing motorists $1,275 a year in wasted time and fuel. Coming in right behind it was the stretch of I-15 immediately to the north, extending to 500 East in American Fork. Motorists only blow $992 dollars in traffic jams there.

Other roads on the list included State Road 77 in Springville, State Street between Pleasant Grove and American Fork, University Parkway and Geneva Road.

While we've all known the roads are bad, TRIP's report actually assigns a monetary value to the congestion. The total cost in lost fuel and time from congestion on Utah County's roads is $8,502 per driver per year, enough to send one student to Utah Valley State College for five semesters.

Just like the news 13 years ago that Utah County's carbon monoxide pollution was the second-worst in the nation, TRIP's report should be a warning for residents to do something to fix the problem before it gets worse, which it will as the population continues to grow.

Fortunately, there is a fix. Next week, voters will be asked to weigh in on a quarter-percent sales tax that will be dedicated to transportation issues. The money will be used to develop commuter rail and improved bus transit in the area, as well as for fixing the local roads before I-15 repairs begin.

In 30 years, the tax increase will generate $1.3 billion that can be used for transit, allowing us to keep the system functioning as the population increases. Waiting to save up enough money to do the work without a tax increase would only make the projects more expensive, due to inflation, while traffic congestion gets worse and people waste even more time and fuel in traffic jams.

For the average family, the tax proposal works out to $96 a year in additional taxes. Weighed against the $8,502 congestion costs drivers every year, the tax increase is a small price.

The tax will not just help commuters. If the transportation system doesn't work properly, other parts of our society will start to break down. Everything is interconnected, and good transportation is to a healthy economy what clear arteries are to the human body.

The choice next week is simple for Utah County voters: Pay a small price now for a working transportation system, or continue to waste money in traffic jams.