Pennsylvania’s infrastructure gets its every-four-years report card — a C-minus

Although the condition of Pennsylvania’s infrastructure has improved in a couple of areas over the past four years, its overall grade remains at C-minus, according to a study released by the state chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

But the recent influx of federal funds through the Biden administration’s trillion-dollar infrastructure program should allow more improvements by the time the next quadrennial report is released in 2026, the society said.

“I think we made some good progress in our first two years [through the federal program],” said David DiGioia, a civil engineer with McMahon Associates in Wilkins, who co-chaired the committee that developed the statewide report.

“I’m super hopeful that can become the baseline for what we can expect here in the next few years.”

Every four years, the state society reviews Pennsylvania’s standing in 15 categories, from roads, bridges and transit to drinking water, public parks and wastewater. This year’s report saw improvements in aviation (C+ to B-) and roads (D+ to C-) while 12 categories stayed the same and parks dropped from B- to C+.

The highest rankings were B- for aviation and hazardous waste, and the worst was for drinking water at D.

The study credited the start of Pittsburgh International Airport’s multibillion-dollar terminal improvement project, improvements to cargo facilities and resiliency projects such as a micro electric grid at PIA and a solar field at Northeast Philadelphia Airport for the improved rating.

The rating for the condition of roads improved because the state has completed nearly 3,800 projects since the last state transportation bill was passed in 2013, and more than 3,000 remain in the pipeline over the next 12 years. However, the report notes that the state remains about $8.1 billion a year short of what it should be spending on roads and bridges.

A special committee appointed last year by Gov. Tom Wolf, who is leaving office in January, recommended a series of changes to move away from the gasoline tax to fund transportation projects and move toward charging drivers for actual miles driven. That’s because the gas tax has been flat in recent years with the growth of more fuel-efficient vehicles and electric cars.

That committee recommended a series of interim steps until that can be implemented such as charging for package deliveries and ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber.

Mr. DiGioia said it isn’t clear whether Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro will push that same program, but Mr. Wolf’s committee served a major purpose.

“I think the positive is we know we have to do something,” he said. “Charges on gasoline sales aren’t going to provide the revenue. I do think that awareness is up.”

The January collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge between Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze was a major dark spot for infrastructure. But Mr. DiGioia said the emergency response and fast action that could have a new bridge in place by the end of the year is an example of the type of innovation the state should try to provide in non-emergency situations.

The study noted the state continues to make progress on bridges in poor condition but it maintained a D+ grade because as poor bridges are upgraded or replaced, about half as many more fall into disrepair.

The rating for parks dropped because the study found a backlog of more than $2 billion in capital projects at state and local parks in Pennsylvania, demonstrating that parks are “undervalued in civic decision-making, despite their vital importance.” For example, between 2018 and 2021, Philadelphia cut its parks budget by 13% and Pittsburgh by 19%.

Drinking water remains at the bottom of the rankings because water systems have been unable to keep up with water main replacement schedules and meet new federal guidelines. The study estimated water systems will have a funding gap approaching $10.2 billion over the next 10 years even with the federal funding increase.