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2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
Report

2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure

ASCE Committee
ASCE, 2013
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

The latest staggering report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Report Card Advisory Council grades 16 categories of US infrastructure – ranging from aviation to bridges, water treatment to ports – with grades from “B-” to “D-.” The Council finds the infrastructure unimproved during the last 25 years – rating it an overall “C.” ASCE’s projections in some cases stretch 30 years forward. Across all categories, the report finds massive shortfalls for correcting current failings and anticipating future challenges. The Council calls for increased public and private funding and visionary leadership. getAbstract recommends this paper as a serious read for government officials at all levels, infrastructure industry employees and investors, urban and rural planners, engineers, futurists, environmentalists and citizens concerned about the future quality of life in the United States.

Summary

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Grades the US Infrastructure

In 1988, the US Congress chartered the National Council on Public Works Improvement Report, published with the title Fragile Foundations: A Report on America’s Public Works. Ten years later, the ASCE’s Report Card Advisory Council – acting on its strategic priority of active commitment to infrastructure – issued its first Report Card on America’s Infrastructure.

Now, the ASCE publishes a new report card every four years, each following the original format but using upgraded methodology to maintain the best current practices. The grading system goes from “A” – for excellent condition – through “F” – for imminent failure.

The problems noted in Fragile Foundations included congestion, overdue maintenance and insufficient funding. Over the subsequent 25 years, conditions have deteriorated. The 2013 report grades US infrastructure as “D+.”

The council used eight criteria: “Capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience and innovation.” The process began with survey and report analyses...

About the Author

The American Society of Civil Engineers’ Report Card Advisory Council has 32 members.

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