Crumbling nation? U.S. infrastructure gets a 'D'
Engineers' report card covers 12 categories, sees decline vs. 2001

Crowded schools, traffic-choked roads and transit cutbacks are eroding the quality of American life, according to an analysis by civil engineers that gave the nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of D.


A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers released Wednesday assessed the four-year trend in the condition of 12 categories of infrastructure.

The overall grade slipped from the D+ given in 2001 and 2003. Overall conditions remained the same for bridges, dams and solid waste, the group said, and worsened in roads, drinking water, transit, wastewater, hazard waste, navigable waterways and energy.

"The condition of our nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works have shown little to no improvement since they were graded an overall D+ in 2001, with some areas sliding toward failing grades," the society said.



'Patch and pray' criticized

“Americans are spending more time stuck in traffic and less time at home with their families,” William Henry, the group’s president, said in a statement. “We need to establish a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure plan as opposed to our current ‘patch and pray’ method to ensure a better quality of life for everyone.”

The report said $1.6 trillion should be spent over the next five years to alleviate potential problems with the nation’s infrastructure.

Transportation alone requires $94 billion in annual spending, the report said, yet gets only $59 billion.

The House is to begin debate Wednesday on a six-year, $284 billion highway and mass transit bill, which stalled last year in a money dispute between the White House and Congress.

C+ the highest grade
The report concluded that airports will face the challenge of accommodating more regional jets and super-jumbo jets. Grade: D+.

It’s uncertain, the report said, whether schools can handle growing enrollment and smaller class sizes required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Grade: D.

The report also noted that many transit systems are borrowing money to maintain operations as they’re raising fees and cutting back service. Grade: D+.

The highest grade? A C+ for solid waste. The lowest? D- for drinking water, navigable waterways and wastewater.

Three new categories — public parks and recreation, rail, and security — were added to the previous 12. Each received a C-.

I especially want to hear Zutmon's take on this.

At first glance, this sounds like quite a sky-is-falling report. If US infrastructure is a D, I can't imagine what they grade infrastructure of third-world countries.

Correct.

It has to be taken into context for an industrialized society.

As for infrastructure, I can attest to personally witnessing the decline in public road and waterways here in the Twin Ports (Duluth/Superior). However, there are available workers, companies, equipment, and even sometimes MONEY available.

BUT, what many projects up here have run into is massive amounts of red tape at the capitals in St. Paul and Madison, and problems with unions here in the Twin Ports.

It is a shame, because the knowledge, manpower, and desire is there. But somewhere along the line, they are not meeting and getting the job done.

So, rust is painted over, roads are poorly patched, trains are grinding to a halt, and everyone is pointing fingers at each other.

Come ON. We are better than THIS. There are private companies that can do the work and there are public servants that want the work done, and yet neither side meets in the middle.


It is possible to get the job done without breaking the bank. But both industry and the government need to compromise.

Hahaha, this was exactly my thought after reading this article. Without seeing the actual report this is impossible to decifer what an A, B, C, or D grade actual is.

This is my favorite comment so far from the article.

“Americans are spending more time stuck in traffic and less time at home with their families,” William Henry, the group’s president, said in a statement. “We need to establish a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure plan as opposed to our current ‘patch and pray’ method to ensure a better quality of life for everyone.”


Roads = better quality of life ???

So where do people drive when they are building a new road?? I guess rerouting people 30 miles out of their way while building a bigger, better road over a course of 7 years is what the ASCE has in mind.

Anyone who lives anywhere near a arterial road or highway better be ready for "eminant domain" of their property. I think the ASCE is dreaming.