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Civil engineers once again rate American infrastructure with a D+

Most U.S. infrastructure is underfunded
Posted at 7:19 AM, Jun 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-07 10:19:14-04

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for more investment in infrastructure. This must be music in the ears of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The organization has for years criticized the state of infrastructure in the United States as being abysmal.

In the ASCE's most recent "Report Card for America’s Infrastructure" for 2017 the country's overall infrastructure once again is awarded a D+ grade, on a scale A to F. America has earned this average mark persistently since 1998. Grade D translates into "poor, at risk".

As the below infographic by Statista shows, surface transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways, is the biggest single position that needs funding. Of the more than $2 trillion, less than half have already been secured, namely $941 billion.

The second biggest position has to do with all infrastructure related to the provision of electricity, such as electrical grids. Here, almost 81 percent of funding needed between 2016 and 2025 have been secured, according to the ASCE.

"For the U.S. economy to be the most competitive in the world, we need a first-class infrastructure system," the engineers argue. Trump has pledged to to launch an investment program of around $1 trillion. That would cover more than two thirds of the $1.44 trillion still needed.

Infographic: America's Infrastructure Investment Problem | Statista You will find more statistics at Statista