2025 Report Card GPA: C
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Texas Section has been developing infrastructure report cards since 2004. Assessing Texas’ infrastructure is a big task, so why do it? Well, at some point in our history, members began to ask questions about our infrastructure. How is it performing? What are the areas that need immediate attention? How do we prioritize our funding? How much funding is needed? Civil engineers perform studies, design, and evaluate various infrastructure systems to answer these very questions. Understanding the interconnectedness of infrastructure systems, as Texas residents experienced in 2021 during the winter storms, answering these questions gives us guidance on how to invest and develop policy which allows our infrastructure to be effective. Infrastructure is the foundation of our economy, safety, and quality of life and these report cards aim to evaluate and grade the systems in order to provide a clear picture of the current state of our infrastructure. It also aims to be a resource for informed decision-making by policymakers, stakeholders, owners and the general public.
The original report card was simple, with a few comments just to the left of the grade, resembling grade school report cards. Since then, not only has Texas grown, but so too have ASCE Texas Section membership, resources, and volunteers. We have since produced four more report cards with the 2025 release being our 6th Texas Infrastructure Report Card. Each release has evolved in presentation and format, with the 2017 and 2021 reports having more in-depth discussion on the various categories. This release follows that same format and is made possible by our 56-committee member volunteers whose efforts have led to meaningful and passionate discussions to recommend a grade based on the assessment. We are thankful to all our committee members who have dedicated over a year to this effort.
The 2025 report recognizes improvements and declines in specific areas and sectors of infrastructure. Two infrastructure sectors worth mentioning are Energy and Transit to prepare the reader for the letter change in grade. In Energy, the updated grade reflects a more comprehensive evaluation of electric and non-electric, to understand how the flip of a switch actually turns on the lights. Winter Storms Viola and Uri revealed the interdependence of systems and networks to assess the reliability issue we faced in 2021. The updated chapter includes generation, transmission, and distribution of both electrical systems and liquid fuels, as well as market analysis impacts. In Transit, the change in grade now considers the data across Texas, noting that although investments have been made in metropolitan areas, many agencies still need support to meet the growing demands of all Texas commuters.
The ongoing evaluation of our infrastructure is essential for prioritizing investments and ensuring that Texas remains a thriving state. The report cards serve as a valuable tool for advocating for necessary improvements and innovations in infrastructure. Advocacy works. When a group of like-minded people gather to share the same story in different but personal ways, change happens. Using this resource and ASCE Key Policy Statements, every biennial year, members come together and share their personal stories with policy makers.
Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that Texas has robust infrastructure that can support its growing population and future demands. Through our collective efforts, we strive to inspire positive change and build a brighter future for all Texans.
Read the executive summary here.