(The Center Square) – The Golden State isn’t getting a gold star on infrastructure.
In fact, California scored a C-, according to a new report from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The quadrennial report card assesses the state’s network of infrastructure, including energy, traffic, airport safety and port electrification systems, among other things. The society of engineers found California is doing well in many facets of its energy infrastructure. This includes advanced treated purified water, clean energy sources, smart traffic systems, wildfire planning, port electrification and improved emergency response.
However, the report says California doesn’t do so well in other areas, including not funding or falling behind on upkeep for aging roads, levees, bridges, water pipes, schools and public buildings. The state and the federal government have allocated money over the years for improvements, but reliance on local funding for many of these systems has resulted in a decline in upkeep for some of this infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers said.
“A ‘C-‘ indicates that California’s built environment is not equipped to keep pace with the needs of the largest economy and population in the U.S., particularly as diverse environmental challenges impact infrastructure systems,” the American Society of Civil Engineers said in a Dec. 3 press release. “California’s aviation, energy, hazardous waste, levees, ports and rail grades all improved compared to their 2019 marks, while the state’s dams, drinking water, schools and stormwater categories decreased.”
In terms of various facets of California’s infrastructure, ports and rail got a B grade; aviation, a B-; wastewater treatment, a C+; hazardous waste treatment, a C. Bridges, solid waste and transit got a C-. Dams, drinking water, levees, public parks and schools got a D+. And energy, inland waterways, roads and stormwater got a D.
Some of California’s ongoing challenges in keeping its infrastructure up-to-date include aging and stressed systems, lack of funding, climate risks and natural disasters, unequal access to high-quality infrastructure, equity gaps and workforce and capacity challenges, the American Society of Civil Engineers wrote in California’s report card.
“Climate risks such as wildfires, droughts, floods, earthquakes and rising sea levels place added pressure on our vulnerable infrastructure,” the report reads. “Disparities between urban and rural areas persist, with underserved neighborhoods often relying on outdated, unreliable infrastructure.”
The American Society of Civil Engineers projects California’s budget shortfall for maintaining and keeping up infrastructure will exceed $216 billion over the next 10 years.
According to the society, more than 65% of California’s bridges are older than their planned lifespan, which is normally 50 years.
Almost 30% of California’s roads are described as being in poor condition. The amount of water utility that is dependent on components that are older than their planned life span is even higher, at more than 85%, the ASCE said.
“This underscores the significant infrastructure pressures facing our state, including droughts and climate resilience and aging pipes and critical equipment,” said Sarah Leeper, president of California American Water.
“As we face these challenges, our ongoing investments are essential to help ensure that Californians continue to have safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water for generations to come,” she said in the press release.
The report card recommends legislation that consistently funds investment in infrastructure, improvements in infrastructure policies and regulations, and the involvement of communities in infrastructure planning, among other recommendations.
“While California’s infrastructure faces significant challenges, this report serves as a clear call to action,” Yaz Emrani, co-chair, 2025 Report Card for California’s Infrastructure, said in the Dec. 3 press release. “It highlights both the urgency and the opportunity for us to invest in modernizing and strengthening our systems. By prioritizing infrastructure renewal now, we can create safer, more sustainable communities and pave the way for a stronger future. With focused investment, we can turn these challenges into lasting improvements for all Californians.”
The release of California’s infrastructure report card comes just a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office announced improvements in water infrastructure. Statewide investments in eight major projects that involve capturing stormwater, water recycling projects, wastewater treatment and desalination facilities have added 2.9 billion gallons of water to California’s water supply, a press release from Newsom’s office said.
“I’m proud of the investments we’re making, and we’re not slowing down,” Newsom said in a Dec. 2 press release. “We’re going to keep advancing the projects, the storage, the recycling, and the infrastructure upgrades that ensure every community has stable, safe water access for the long haul.”
According to the governor’s 2025-26 budget summary, $66.8 billion in federal funds and $42.3 billion of one-time state funds allocated to California’s infrastructure totaled $109.1 billion of additional funding to clean energy projects, public transit, flood control and safe drinking water, as well as improvement in internet access for residents of the state.
