Bruce Van Note, commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation, said infrastructure is like the furnace in your basement: You don’t really think about it until it breaks in the winter.
When the drive to work is smooth and water is flowing where it should be, the average person doesn’t spend much time pondering the pipes and roadways contributing to that.
Maine’s roads, bridges, airports, drinking water and other infrastructure are adequate, but still need some attention, said Nate Strout, president of the Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), at a press conference Tuesday morning in Topsham.
Maine received an overall grade of C in the group’s 2024 Report Card for Maine’s Infrastructure. While the state has improved since the last report card in 2020 and now sits just above the national average, it still has work to do regarding sustainable funding for maintenance, new investments, and making sure aging infrastructure is resilient against the increasing intensity of extreme weather events.
This year’s score is the highest grade Maine has ever received in the assessment that has been completed every four years since 2008. The organization reviewed the condition, capacity, maintenance, innovation, resiliency, public safety, funding and future needs for 16 different infrastructure areas.
Strout said the state “should be proud of the progress we made.”
While bridges, levees and energy infrastructure dropped in their scores, the state saw improvement in six categories: hazardous waste, rail, roads, schools, stormwater and wastewater.
Nearly one in seven bridges in Maine are in poor condition, Strout said, noting that the figure is much higher than the national average. Van Note said the state has invested in bridge improvements, but it can take awhile for those efforts to be reflected in the report card.
Over the past few years, Van Note said MaineDOT has been able to pivot from what he called “MacGyver mode” of managing the slow decline of the state’s aging infrastructure to actually making progress toward improvements. He thanked federal and state lawmakers for passing bipartisan legislation to help fund that work, such as the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
For example, Van Note pointed to the state’s road infrastructure, which increased from a D to a C-. While that may not seem like a high score, it indicates improvement. It takes time to see that growth, but Van Note said that “as long as that bipartisan wisdom continues, you’re going to see continued progress.”
Craig Douglas, general manager of the Brunswick and Topsham Water District, said the state should continue to take a holistic approach to infrastructure. Douglas noted that within the few mile radius of the Sea Dog Brewing Company in Topsham, where the press conference was held, there are schools, transit centers and even a water main running along a bridge over the Androscoggin River.
“We need to be raising them all because it is an interconnected system.”
A closer look at the Maine’s infrastructure grades
Looking at the entire report card for Maine, just under two-thirds of the infrastructure categories were rated in the fair to mediocre range, C- to C+. Three categories were found to be in good condition, earning a B or B-, while four categories were in poor enough condition to receive a D+ or D grade.
Strout said the organization isn’t really looking for A grades in these assessments because the amount of funding needed to earn those marks isn’t sustainable.
The three areas where the state received its highest marks are aviation, rail and ports.
Maine’s 74 airports have significantly improved in the past four years, the report said, but the two largest airports have minor issues with terminal space and parking capacity.
More than $100 million in state, federal and private funds have been invested in the 13 significant ports and harbors in the past four years. While they are generally in good condition, the report noted that ports are starting to show signs of wear that should be attended to.
Tourism and cruise ship calls remain strong throughout the state and the Portland International Marine Terminal continues to see growth in container shipping, but there needs to be more than $170 million in future investments to realize future potential.
How to boost Maine’s grade
With the Maine Legislature set to convene again next month, Strout hopes the report card can help lawmakers make informed decisions about infrastructure. He emphasized the need to develop sustainable funding sources to make continued investments, and said the information compiled in the report can help inform those decisions.
“We try to give them the facts behind it and lead them in the right direction,” Strout said.
The report from the American Society of Civil Engineers also included five specific recommendations to help the state raise its grade in future assessments.
Prioritize public safety
The state should prioritize funding for areas concerning public safety including statewide dam and levee needs, remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil and groundwater, and reducing traffic fatalities. Specifically, the report said investing in the state’s highway strategic plan could help save lives since there are over 150 fatalities due to crashes on Maine roads each year.
Implement climate resilience
Building more climate resilient infrastructure can help reduce long-term costs as Maine experiences more frequent severe storms. The report said all infrastructure investments should consider climate impacts. For example, transit enhancements could attract more users to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Create sustainable funding sources
The state has received more than $2 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but the report said that continued reliance on federal grants and other one-time increases is not sustainable. To address the long-term financial needs of infrastructure maintenance and rising construction costs, the report says the state needs to find new funding sources.
Set responsible, resilient utility rates and user fees
User fees should reflect the true cost of using and improving infrastructure, the report said. While infrastructure owners can set appropriate fees, the public needs to be informed about fee changes. The report also says that the public’s willingness to accept increased fees for necessary upgrades is essential.
Educate and innovate
The report recommends that Maine not only harness the knowledge of its aging population, but adapt to the next generation by creating a dynamic work environment. It can do this by embracing innovation and new technologies.
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