Report: Maine infrastructure needs solutions and investment
Maine’s infrastructure grade remained unchanged from four years ago, the American Society of Civil Engineers reported Monday.
Maine had an overall grade of C-, same as 2012, the society’s Maine chapter said in a meeting in Portland.
“With eight areas showing decline over the past four years, it’s evident that our infrastructure isn’t being made the priority it deserves,” said Lynn Farrington, president of the Maine Section of ASCE. “We can fix this, but we need focused attention, sustainable solutions and proactive investment across all categories with a view to Maine’s future.”
Maine remained a notch above the nation’s overall infrastructure grade of D+, given out in 2013.
The grade for Maine’s airports fell from B to C+ while passenger transportation declined from C- to D+.
Maine showed improvement in three categories: ports and waterways rose from C+ to B-, energy/electricity infrastructure improved from C+ to B- and pre-K-12 schools rose from C- to C. Two other areas showed improvement, the society said, though their grades remained the same: railroads, which garnered a C grade, and contaminated site remediation, which remained at C-.
Infrastructure is graded based on eight criteria: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience and innovation.
The report noted that, among New England states, Maine roads have the lowest funding per mile. As a result, Maine motorists spend an average of $485 a year on additional vehicle operating costs.
The ASCE’s last report came out in 2012.
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