ASCE Issues C- Grade for Rhode Island’s Infrastructure
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Rhode Island’s infrastructure is at a C- grade level, the American Society of Civil Engineers declared in its report card chronicling the state’s networks.
Specifically, the Ocean State received a D- for its bridges, C+ for drinking water, and D for its roads.
The report’s authors recommended state officials proceed with improvements to multimodal freight and landside connections to ports.
RI InfrastructureReportCard... by Transport Topics on Scribd
They argued that doing so would enhance freight connectivity and reduce congestion.
They also suggested officials continue with the RhodeWorks bridge-repair plan and identify reliable federal and state sources of funding.
“Rhode Island is one of the oldest states in the nation and, as a result, our infrastructure faces many challenges,” Nazifa Sarawat, chairperson of the 2020 Report Card for Rhode Island’s Infrastructure, said June 24. “Severe weather events and our location as a coastal state only add to the burden. If we want to use taxpayer funds efficiently and proactively ensure public safety, we must ensure that our systems are properly maintained and prepared for imminent sea level rise, harsh winters and increasingly severe storms.”
“Although we’ve made progress toward becoming energy-independent and are improving in other areas, we must have collaboration across all levels of government to modernize these structures on which each Rhode Islander depends,” added Lt. Gov. Dan McKee.
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