Georgia has the nation’s ninth best road system according to a report released Thursday.

The annual study by Reason Foundation compares state’s Interstate highways and roads in a range of categories.

It’s the second year in a row the state placed ninth. Georgia was fourth overall in 2000 but has fallen in the rankings ever since.

DOT spokesman David Spear says it’s been difficult to fund road improvements.

“The condition has declined steadily over recent years because we simply don’t have the financial resources to invest in it," Spear says.

The report tracks performance through 2008, and Spear says Georgia has been doing better since then.

“We’ve had a significant amount federal stimulus money injected into our transportation system that allowed us to rehabilitate and replace some bridges and resurface some roads," Spear says.

Spear says Georgia needs to find a more sustainable source of transportation funding to improve its roadways. A regional penny sales tax for transportation will go before voters in 2012.

Tags: Georgia, transportation, Georgia Department of Transportation, ranking, Georgia roads, highway, Reason Foundation