Ohio Infrastructure Gets 'C-' Grade From Federal Government

OHIO — Ohio infrastructure has "suffered from a systemic lack of investment," according to a new report from the federal government.

On Monday, President Joe Biden's White House staff released a state-by-state infrastructure analysis. In the report, the Buckeye State received an overall infrastructure grade of "C-."

The report was released as Biden's team tries to garner more support for its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package. Most states received a letter grade on their infrastructure. West Virginia earned a D. So did Biden's home state of Delaware. The highest grade went to Utah, which notched a C-plus. The lowest grade, D-minus, went to the territory of Puerto Rico.

The Ohio analysis starts by noting that 1,377 bridges and 4,925 miles of highway in Ohio are in poor condition. Since 2011, Ohio drivers have seen their commute times increase by 5.7 percent. Each Ohio driver pays $506 annually due to driving on roads in disrepair.

Ohioans spend an extra 75.9 percent of their time commuting when they use public transportation, the report found. Non-white households are 6.2 times more likely to rely on public transit. Additionally, 16 percent of trains and other public transit vehicles are past their useful life.

Ohio infrastructure is failing in these other ways, the report said:

• 29 extreme weather events have cost Ohio $10 billion in infrastructure repairs.
• Water infrastructure will require an additional $13.4 billion in funding for repairs and replacements.
• 681,000 Ohioans spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent.
• 6.8 percent of Ohioans live in areas with no broadband access.
• 58.2 percent of Ohioans live in areas with only one broadband internet provider.
• Low-income Ohioans spend between 8 and 10 percent of their income on energy costs.

Read the full White House infrastructure report online.

Republican lawmakers object to funding the package by increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and increasing the global minimum tax, among other tax changes including stepped-up IRS enforcement being proposed by the Biden administration.

The federal analysis of Ohio infrastructure aligns with the 2021 Report Card for Ohio Infrastructure from the Ohio Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. That society also gave Ohio infrastructure a "C-" grade.

Here's how Ohio performed on that report card:

• Bridges: C+,
• Dams: C-,
• Drinking water: D+,
• Energy: C,
• Hazardous waste: D+,
• Inland waterways: D+,
• Levees: D,
• Parks: C-,
• Ports: C,
• Rail: B,
• Roads: D,
• Schools: C+,
• Solid waste: B-,
• Stormwater: D+,
• Transit: D and
• Wastewater: C-

That report noted the extensive cuts to transit funding over nearly two decades, with the state slashing funding from $42.3 million in 2000 to $6.6 million in 2018. The state has since reinvested in transit, though COVID-19 hampered those efforts.

“For years, America’s infrastructure was the envy of the world. But for too long now, we’ve failed to invest the necessary resources in our nation’s roads, bridges, schools and technology,” U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said during a February meeting held with the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this article.