CIC PRESS RELEASE

Released March 9, 2005
Contact Beth Miller Malek 916-442-5000

Report Card for America's Infrastructure Receives Near Failing Grade

CIC Praises ASCE 2005 Report Card Effort; Echoes Urgent Warning to Invest and Rebuild California's Deteriorating Infrastructure Immediately To Improve Overall Quality of Life

SACRAMENTO -- The American Society of Civil Engineers today released its 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure giving the nation a near failing grade for the deteriorating condition of its infrastructure systems and facilities, most notably its congested roads and overcrowded schools. Since its last report card was released in 2001, America's infrastructure received a cumulative grade of "D" - a slip from its previous grade of "D+".

The ASCE's report card results warned that "The condition of our nation's roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works have shown little to no improvement since they were graded an overall D+ in 2001, with some areas sliding toward failing grades."

"If we value our quality of life, then sustained, adequate investment in public infrastructure is mandatory," said Don LaBelle, Board Member of CIC and Director of Public Works, Alameda County, CA. "Infrastructure investment will also keep quality jobs in moderate economic downturns. We must all be activists when it comes to financing public infrastructure."

To remedy America's current and looming problems, ASCE estimates an investment need of $1.6 trillion over a five-year period from all levels of government and the private sector. In California, the state Department of Finance in 2003 estimated an investment need of $54.2 billion over a 5-year period for state infrastructure alone. Local infrastructure investment need could potentially cost billions of dollars more.

The 2005 Report Card also shows that due to worsening traffic congestion, Americans are spending more time in their cars than with their families. In California, the costs of traffic congestion, per person, are staggering. Below are the calculated costs of traffic congestion as measured per person, per year, in excess fuel and time lost.

Other 2005 National Report Card statistics for California's transportation sector include:

• 60% of major urban roads are congested.
  
  
• 71% of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
  
  
• Vehicle travel on California's highways increased 25% from 1990 to 2003. while its population grew 19% between 1990 and 2003.
  
  
• The state has transferred $3.1 billion from the transportation trust fund to the general fund.
  
  
• Driving on roads in need of repair costs California motorists $12.6 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs-$554 per motorist.

California's water systems also show signs of neglect, including:

• 28% of bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
  
  
• There are 44 state determined deficient dams.
  
  
• There are 336 high hazard dams. A high hazard dam is defined as a dam whose failure would cause a loss of life and significant property damage.
  
  
• The estimated rehabilitation cost for California's most critical dams is estimated at $679 million.
  
  
• The state's drinking water infrastructure needs $17.5 billion over the next 20 years.
  
  
• California loses 222 million gallons of drinking water a day due to leaking pipes.
  
  
• $14.4 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs.

Additionally, 71 percent of California's schools have at least one inadequate building feature and 87 percent have at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.

The report's conclusions illustrate that the California Infrastructure Coalition's mission - building support for dedicated and consistent sources of funding sufficient to sustain California's vital infrastructure facilities and systems - is one of the most important challenges facing both California's policymakers and its residents.

CIC is continuing its efforts to support the regional ASCE Report Cards, such as the Inland Empire Report Card and the upcoming Bay Area Report Card, to bring further attention to the infrastructure needs of local communities. For more information on the national report card, visit CIC's website at www.calinfrastructure.org.

The California Infrastructure Coalition is a non-profit, broad-based organization that advocates for dedicated and consistent sources of funding to sustain California's vital infrastructure.

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