On-Air Now
On-Air Now
Listen Live

Michigan ranked “Mediocre” on Infrastructure Report Card


Photo: Matthew Dae Smith ~ USA TODAY NETWORK

May 8, 2023 ~ Michigan’s infrastructure was recently rated “mediocre” by engineers, though is showing signs of improvement.

The American Society of Civil Engineers published Michigan’s infrastructure report card May 8, giving the state an overall grade of C-. This was an upgrade from a report five years prior, which had a grade of D+.

The report looked at various aspects of Michigan’s public infrastructure. These categories were aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, inland waterways, public parks, schools, solid waste, stormwater, rail, roads, transit, and wastewater.

PODCAST:


May 10, 2023 ~ Executive Vice President of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association Rob Coppersmith talks with Kevin Dietz and Tom Jordan about how top civil engineers gave Michigan’s overall infrastructure a C- letter grade in a new report card.

(CONTINUED) Each of these areas were given individual grades, though no category garnered higher than a C+. Roads in Michigan got a grade of D, though the report noted there are signs of improvement from recent spending packages.

Another low ranking category was public transit, which got a C+. The report said reliability and availability of transit services in many areas of the state is not sufficient in meeting demand or attracting new riders. Michigan will need $17.3 billion in investment over the next 25 years to meet demands.

Executive Vice President of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association Rob Coppersmith told 760 WJR’s Kevin Dietz and Tom Jordan that this report exemplifies this needs for infrastructure improvement in Michigan.

We talk about population issues in Michigan, (that it) is declining,” Coppersmith said. “That kind of report card certainly is not going to make it attractive to move to Michigan for sure.

The full report can be viewed here.

760 WJR TOP NEWS STORIES: