On December 3, 2025, ASCE Region 9, which encompasses the state of California released the 2025 Report Card for California’s Infrastructure, giving the state an overall grade of C-, consistent with the grade it received in 2019. California is home to nearly 40 million residents, a global economy, and some of the nation’s most complex infrastructure systems, supporting bustling ports, advanced water systems, world-leading transit networks, and communities stretching from dense urban centers to wildfire-prone rural regions.
So, what does a C- mean? California’s infrastructure is holding up, thanks in part to major federal and state investments, but aging assets, climate pressures, and rapid growth are pushing many systems to their limits. Wildfires, drought, storms, earthquakes, and rising sea levels continue to test an already overstretched network.
A Few Categories Are Moving in the Right Direction
Some infrastructure sectors have seen meaningful progress since the last report card:
- Aviation (B-): California’s airports moved 113 million passengers in 2024, representing over 11% of all U.S. air travelers, and many facilities have made major upgrades in terminals, airfields, and transit access.
- Energy (D): California is expanding renewable energy, battery storage, and wildfire-mitigation technologies, but the grid is struggling to keep pace with rising electricity demand from EVs and data centers.
- Hazardous Waste (C): California continues to clean up contaminated sites (700 in 2023) and invests heavily in hazardous waste management, improving public health and environmental outcomes.
- Levees (D+): Flood-risk areas have seen improvements, especially in the Sacramento River system, helping protect millions of residents and billions in assets. But with an estimated $59 billion in needed upgrades and bond funds largely exhausted, local agencies are struggling to keep pace.
- Ports (B): California’s ports handle 38% of U.S. imports and have made significant strides thanks to major capital projects and more than $1 billion in recent federal investment. Despite these gains, long-term modernization needs still outpace available funding.
- Rail (B): The system meets current demand but needs major upgrades and new funding to support population growth and large expansion projects like high-speed rail.
These improvements show what’s possible when sustained investment, innovative policy, and cross-agency collaboration align.
But Other Sectors Are Falling Behind
For many categories, progress has stalled or even declined:
- Bridges (C-): More than 1,500 California bridges remain in poor condition, and many structures are aging beyond their intended lifespan.
- Public Parks (D+): California’s parks face a $5.6 billion maintenance backlog and major gaps in access, with 60% of residents lacking sufficient park space.
- Roads (D): Nearly one-third of California roads are in poor condition, and the state leads the nation in congestion.
- Solid Waste (C-): California’s solid waste infrastructure is struggling to meet ambitious recycling goals amid facility closures and high costs.
- Transit (C-): Transit systems have seen modest improvements, but ridership remains far below pre-pandemic levels and agencies face rising costs. M
- Wastewater (C+): Many wastewater pipes and facilities are decades old, contributing to more than $65 billion in statewide needs.
- Dams (D+): California has strengthened dam safety oversight, but aging structures and climate-driven extremes are increasing risks faster than upgrades can keep pace. Significant investment is needed to maintain existing dams, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure reliable water and power supplies.
- Drinking Water (D+): While California leads in water innovation, closing the $11.5 billion funding gap and improving equity for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities is essential for safe, reliable service.
- Inland Waterways (D): The Delta’s waterways enable critical freight movement, but heavy shoaling, outdated facilities, and vulnerable bridges highlight the need for major dredging and modernization. Without new investments, navigability and economic activity will continue to decline.
- Schools (D+): With 30% of schools over 50 years old and district budgets strained by declining enrollment and rising costs, many campuses need major modernization.
- Stormwater (D): California’s aging stormwater systems are underfunded and increasingly strained by extreme weather.
Many of these systems face growing climate risks, and without long-term funding, modernization may not keep pace with economic needs or population growth.
Why It Matters
California leads the nation in economic productivity, innovation, clean energy, and global trade. But that leadership depends on reliable roads and bridges, resilient water systems, safe and up-to-date schools, modernized ports, and strong energy infrastructure.
Between 2020 and 2024, California experienced eight billion-dollar disasters, resulting in $20-$50 billion in costs. These disasters illustrate the high cost of deferred investment and the urgent need for resilient design. Infrastructure resilience isn’t just a policy priority—it is a public safety imperative.
What Needs to Happen
ASCE’s recommendations for California focus on four big moves:
- Secure Reliable, Long-Term Funding: California needs stable, flexible funding streams across all infrastructure sectors. Consistent investment, supported by legislation that clears barriers to funding, is essential to keep pace with maintenance and modernization needs.
- Strengthen Collaborative Leadership: Cross-sector partnerships and a skilled workforce are key to managing California’s complex systems. Advancing asset management, predictive maintenance, and smart, sustainable technologies will improve performance and boost resilience.
- Connect Infrastructure to Quality of Life: Communities should be engaged in planning and kept informed about both progress and risks. Raising public awareness helps build trust and reinforces how infrastructure directly affects safety, reliability, and overall well-being.
- Modernize Policies to Deliver Projects Faster: Streamlining permitting, updating standards, and using data-driven, risk-based planning can accelerate project delivery and reduce costs. Climate-resilient, multimodal design will help ensure California’s infrastructure is efficient, adaptable, and ready for the future.
The Path Ahead
California has world-class engineers, innovative public agencies, and a long track record of tackling big challenges. But today’s C- shows that the state’s infrastructure is not yet keeping pace with its ambitions or its risks.
With continued investment, forward-looking planning, and a commitment to resilience, California can build an infrastructure system that meets the moment—and the future.