U.S. infrastructure nearly flunks on engineer report card, gets C-minus

The American Society of Civil Engineers on Wednesday gave the United States a C-minus on infrastructure – citing aging roads and bridges and other parts in badly need of repair. 

The assessment was given as part of the group's routine report card on infrastructure.

"This report card is a warning and a call to action," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in response to the report. "A generation of disinvestment is catching up to us. And we must choose whether to allow our global competitors to pull ahead permanently, or to invest in the safety, equity, resilience, and economic strength that superior infrastructure can bring to Americans."

To be sure, U.S. officials and lawmaker have for year said the U.S. is falling behind in the global economy because of aging highways, ports and other infrastructure and has called for more tax dollar in improve conditions.

The Engineering group releases its infrastructure report card every four years, the last being in 2017, when the U.S. received a D-plus.

Many categories besides basic infrastructure like roads, bridges, and railways that are also factored into the report; some other categories include waste removal, public parks, and even broadband access, according to the Associated Press. 

Roads and transit received the worst scores – with a D and D-minus, respectively. Rail and port infrastructure received a B and B-minus, respectively.

The report followed a winter storm that ravaged Texas earlier in February, leaving many in the state without power, heat or clean water.