It’s not sexy, and it’s often not discussed… until it’s too late. But the infrastructure needs in this state and this country cannot be ignored nor taken lightly. As a country, even with the landmark 2021 Congress-approved, infrastructure investment bill, the USA still lags far behind other world economic powers.
Locally, (as we await the 2023 Hawai`i Infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers- ASCE) we can reflect back to the pre-pandemic 2019 report on our infrastructure to remind us how vital- and yet fraught with differing opinions on what to do- the infrastructure situation is. Who’s to pay? When? What takes priority and what gets waitlisted?
But one thing that cannot go on unattended is upgrading our antiquated and dilapidated infrastructure that we often hear about when things go awry. Sewer problems, water main breaks, electrical conduit corrosion, creaking pipes, bridge concerns, rising tides. Lots to ponder with limited resources.
In the ASCE 2019 report, the best grades Hawai`i’s infrastructure received were a “C+” for bridges and a “C” for solid waste. Dams? We got a “D”. Damn! Drinking water, wastewater, schools, and roads all scored a “D+”. Energy and coastal areas? “C-”. These grades may parallel Bart Simpson’s report card, but the rankings are surely no joke.
We await the 2023 report to assess progress (or not); the 2019 report indicated that: “The majority of Hawai`i’s infrastructure has been operating beyond its useful life, and some components of systems are over 100 years old”. Gulp. Problem areas are too numerous to tackle simultaneously. Tactical plans must ensure that, piece by piece, we address the most problematic, serious needs today, next year, and next decade.
ASCE’s 2019 report gave Hawai`i an overall infrastructure grade of “D+” and suggested that the funding gap is increasing. ASCE’s 2021overall USA infrastructure grade was a “C-”. Our tired infrastructure isn’t getting younger nor improving over time. But before you say “well, just fix it”, imagine what spending areas will have to be ignored or pushed aside to get this heavy lifting done. And that’s an estimated $23-billion (or so) conundrum that legislators, engineers, division managers and others must chip away at.
Maybe the upcoming ASCE Hawai`i report will show local progress being made through diligent efforts, with on-going, solid plans in the works. This is not a report card to be taken lightly or kicked down the potholed road.
Think about it…