The Florida Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on Wednesday released the 2021 report card for Florida’s infrastructure. Florida civil engineers gave 14 categories of infrastructure an overall grade of a C, meaning the state’s infrastructure is in mediocre condition. Some sectors such as dams and schools have fallen behind, and additional steps must be taken to ensure the state’s infrastructure is prepared for continued climate impacts. Civil engineers graded solid waste a B-plus; bridges and ports a B; aviation, energy and roads a C-plus; drinking water, transit and wastewater a C; coastal areas and stormwater a C-minus; levees and schools a D-plus; and dams a D-minus. 

“This report demonstrates that Florida has done a commendable job across its infrastructure networks preparing for climate impacts and maintaining systems that are coping with growing usage due to tourism and population growth,” says Kathi Ruvarac, P.E., chair of 2021 Report Card for Florida’s Infrastructure in a news release. “We hope legislators and all Floridians utilize this tool to spark changes where needed and encourage continued growth where we have succeeded.” 

The report includes calls to action to raise the grades, such as continued leadership and investment in critical transportation and freight sectors to strengthen the economy and public safety; improvement in routine data collection and assessment of schools, dams and levees to expand the public and lawmakers’ access to information to inform safety and funding decisions; and expanding application of new approaches, materials and technologies across Florida’s infrastructure sectors to improve its ability to withstand or quickly recover from natural or man-made hazards.