Have you ever been to the northeast? NY and MA have far worse roads.
County roads often suck because the counties are broke for a variety of reasons. City streets are awful because the state doesn't provide any aid -- although "towns" (some of which are bigger than cities) do.
The other thing is related to NY being ahead of the curve on highway construction. Many of the "expressways" and "parkways" in the NYC metro area are ineligible for federal highway funds because they connect toll bridges, but don't receive any toll money.
Massachusetts has a road system designed by masochists who didn't drive. No amount of money could fix it.