The Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently rated Maine’s infrastructure in 16 categories and gave it an overall C grade, meaning the infrastructure is in fair condition but requires attention to remain reliable.
No category received an A. Aviation received a B, and ports and rail both received a B-. Schools received a C+, public parks and stormwater both received a C, and drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, roads, solid waste, and wastewater all received a C-. Bridges, dams, levees, and transit all received a D+.
When compared to the 2020 report card, three categories saw grade decreases while six saw grade increases.
“Mainers can be proud of the progress made to improve infrastructure in our state,” Nate Strout, P.E., ASCE president of the Maine section, said. “The improving grades are the results of increased investment and efforts to build more resilient infrastructure. Now is the time to build on that progress by ensuring infrastructure funding remains a priority at all levels to ensure Maine has reliable infrastructure systems to power our state’s economy and improve everyone’s quality of life.”
The report card included five recommendations to raise grades: prioritize public safety; implement climate resilience; create sustainable funding sources; set responsible, resilient utility rates and user fees; and educate and innovate.