It’s report card time – but not for the kids.
Michigan’s infamously deteriorating and aging infrastructure has received a C- grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers for its 2023 “report card.”
The American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, consists of engineers that design many of the road and infrastructure projects that would be included in improvements.
While Michigan may not be getting a failing grade on any of the fourteen categories the ASCE analyzed, representatives for the society on Monday said Michigan’s infrastructure could continue to go downhill
“What we use the report card for… is to give a snapshot of where our infrastructure currently is and where the needs potentially are and then allow others to take that report card and use it,” explained Brad Ewart II, president for ASCE Michigan.
Of the fourteen areas of Michigan infrastructure examined, the highest-performing section is solid waste, or trash, which received a C+. Other top areas are public parks, aviation, and rail – all of which received a C.
The worst areas were stormwater, roads, and energy, all of which got a D.
Here are all fourteen of Michigan’s infrastructure areas and their grades:
Aviation: C
Bridges: D+
Dams: C-
Drinking Water: D+
Energy: D
Inland Waterways: C
Public Parks: C
Rail: C
Roads: D
Schools: C-
Solid Waste: C+
Stormwater: D
Transit: C-
Wastewater: C
The state’s C- “GPA” matches ASCE’s national average for infrastructure, meaning the issues extend far beyond Michigan. The problems in Michigan, the society said, can often come down to simple investments.
Some areas have gotten worse since last year’s report card, while other areas, like roads, have improved in their grades over the last few years.
“There’s been a lot of investment. There’s a lot of short-term funding that has gone on,” Ewart said.
Long-term, stable funding is what the society said is needed to also be considered, beyond simply quick cash influxes.
“Once those run up, we’re hoping that there’s a long-term solution,” he added.
The report comes as Michigan lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are in the middle of backroom negotiations on the details of next year’s budget deal.
“I really hope that they use it,” Ewart said. “Like I said, there’s a lot of different sources and I think there’s a million different directions to pull from.”
This article originally appeared in WWMT. For more, click here.