The American Society of Civil Engineers issued its 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure and, not surprisingly, it earned a D grade.
The Report Card is an assessment by professional engineers of the nation's status in 15 categories of infrastructure. In 2009, all signs point to an infrastructure that is poorly maintained, unable to meet current and future demands, and in some cases, unsafe. Since the last Report Card, in 2005, the grades have not improved. ASCE estimates the nation remains at a D average. Deteriorating conditions and inflation have added hundreds of billions to the total cost of repairs and needed upgrades. ASCE's current estimated five-year investment need is $2.2 trillion, up from $1.6 trillion in 2005.
The grades ranged from a high of C for bridges to a low of D-minus for drinking water, inland waterways, levees, roads, and wastewater.
The Report Card also includes five key solutions for raising the grades:
1. Increase federal leadership in infrastructure
2. Promote sustainability and resilience in infrastructure
3. Develop federal, regional, and state infrastructure plans
4. Address lifecycle costs and ongoing maintenance
5. Increase and improve infrastructure investment from all stakeholders
To view the ASCE Report Card announcement, view and read a CNN report on the Report Card and its findings, and see previous Report Cards, as well as ASCE's five key solutions for raising the grades, visit www.asce.org/reportcard/2009/index.html.
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All of us around the Great Lakes region understand the threat that outdated wastewater infrastructure can pose to people, businesses and communities. More than 23 billion gallons of sewage overflows into the lakes every year, closing beaches and threatening public health.
The good news is we have solutions. Congress and the Obama administration can invest in our communities. I encourage you to read more about how we can both create jobs and protect national resources like the Great Lakes at:
http://www.healthylakes.org/threats/2009/01/29/short-and-very-bittersweet
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