Hawaii Gets D+ on Its First Infrastructure Report Card
Emily Pollock posted on March 14, 2019 |
Hawaii has miles of scenic coastal roads. According to the ASCE’s report on infrastructure in Hawaii, those roads are one of the things most at risk due to sea level rise. (Image courtesy of Shutterstock.)
On March 7th, the Hawai’ian branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave its state a D+ on infrastructure quality: the exact same grade that the U.S. received on the ASCE’s national 2017 infrastructure report card. The ASCE reported that most of the state’s infrastructure was in poor to fair condition, and blamed aging infrastructure, lack of funding, and a worrying increase in flooding.
“The first Report Card for Hawai’i’s Infrastructure showed us that a large majority of our infrastructure systems were built decades ago and are reaching the end of their service lives,” said Steven Doo, co chair of the report card committee.
This is the first year the Hawai’ian branch of the ASCE has offered this report card, which the organization cites as “a public service to citizens and policymakers.” Like the national report it was inspired by, the state report graded on separate categories of infrastructure to generate the overall score. Bridges topped the list with a C+; solid waste took second place with a C; and aviation, coastal areas and energy all got a C-. A grade down, drinking water, schools, wastewater and roads all received a…