/ Utahns who take public transportation spend an extra 103.5% of their time commuting, according to a White House infrastructure report released Monday.
Utah ranked top in the nation in a new
The report graded states on 12 major areas of infrastructure the Biden Administration hopes to improve with
$2.3 trillion in federal funding, including traditional categories like roads and bridges but also broadband access, child care and housing.
With an overall C+ grade, Utah tied Georgia with its relatively high marks nationwide, though the state has still suffered from a “systemic lack of investment” for decades, the report said. It noted there are 62 bridges and more than 2,000 miles of highway in poor condition and commute times for drivers have increased by over 7% since 2011.
ASCE Gives Utah C+ on Infrastructure Report Card
A look at snowy Interstate 15 in southern Utah. The state s roads earned a B+ on the report card. (Willowpix)
Utah earned a C+ on its most recent infrastructure report card, according to preliminary findings from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
ASCE representatives disclosed the report card results virtually Dec. 16 due to coronavirus-related safety concerns.
The report card evaluated 12 categories of infrastructure: aviation, bridges, canals, dams, drinking water, hazardous waste, levees, solid waste, stormwater, roads, transit and wastewater.
“We know that strong infrastructure is beneficial to the economy by enabling goods to travel over our bridges and highways, allowing employees to reach their offices in a timely and safe manner and keeping businesses operational through extreme weather or seismic events,” said Darren Burton, president of ASCE’s Utah section.
Deseret News
Civil engineers grade state on infrastructure
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Traffic moves along Triumph Boulevard as it passes over I-15 in Lehi on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. The interchange was added as part of the Utah Department of Transportation’s Technology Corridor project, a three-year project that brought major revisions to I-15, interchanges and surrounding roads from Lehi Main Street to state Route 92.
Steve Griffin, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY Failure to address needed repairs in infrastructure like high hazard dams, bridges, wastewater treatment systems and even levees designed to hold back floodwaters costs the average U.S. family $3,400 in disposable income each year, according to findings by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Published December 17, 2020 at 9:38 AM MST Listen • 4:38
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Utah received a C+ for the current state of its infrastructure, which includes everything from bridges and roads, to drinking water and hazardous waste. This story and more in the Thursday morning news brief.
Thursday morning, December 17, 2020
State
State Legislature Predicts Tax Revenue Increase
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Utah’s tax revenue will increase 1.5% during this fiscal year, and 6.5% next year, according to projections released Wednesday by the State Legislature, Tax Commission and the governor’s office. The Legislature’s Chief Economist Andrea Wilko said federal stimulus payments have helped Utah weather this economic storm caused by the pandemic. The full Legislature reconvenes Jan. 19 and plans to pass a budget based on the new revenue projections.
SALT LAKE CITY Failure to address needed repairs in infrastructure like high hazard dams, bridges, wastewater treatment systems and even levees designed to hold back floodwaters costs the average U.S. family $3,400 in disposable income each year, according to findings by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
And in extreme cases it costs lives.
In a report card grading Utah s infrastructure released Wednesday, the state received a cumulative grade of C+, which is the same overall grade it received five years ago when the last assessment was released.
While receiving the same marks might indicate a lack of progress by Utah, the society says that assumption shouldn t be made.