ASCE Credits Federal Investment For Improving US Infrastructure’s Report Card

American infrastructure gets an overall “C” grade — its highest ever — from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in its quadrennial assessment of the nation’s built environment, including highways, bridges, ports, and transit systems. In a news release covering today’s publication of the “2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure,” ASCE stated that “legislation passed by Congress since the 2021 Report Card sparked progress, but more work and investment is needed to overcome decades of underinvestment and adapt the country’s transportation networks, water systems, electric grid and broadband services to meet current and future demands.”

According to the society’s projections, a $3.7 trillion gap exists between planned infrastructure investments “and what must be done to have the nation’s infrastructure in good working order — an increase from the $2.59 trillion gap reported four years ago. The report underscores the essential need for lawmakers to maintain existing levels of federal infrastructure investment, and increase participation from state and local governments and the private sector, to reduce costs for American households and bolster economic growth.”

ASCE assigns individual grades to 18 categories of infrastructure. Bridges received a “C,” roads a “D+,” and public transit a “D.” A 28-page executive summary accompanies the full report card.

The New York Times reports, ASCE representatives told reporters the infrastructure investments made possible during the Biden administration are showing results, “with grades having improved since the last report, in 2021, for nearly half the 18 categories that the group tracks.” Much of that federal funding is now frozen pending review by the new administration, but ASCE members “expressed optimism” the money will start to reflow “because it benefited most Americans and enjoyed bipartisan support.”

MTA Collected Nearly $52 Million In Congestion Zone Tolls In February

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced yesterday that February congestion pricing program toll revenue was $51.9 million and net income after expenses was $40.4 million. “This keeps the program on track to provide the $500 million that was initially projected,” MTA noted.

The announcement includes a breakdown of the revenue stream by vehicle category and tolling period. Sixty-six percent of the tolls were collected from passenger vehicles and 95 percent during the peak tolling periods (5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday). “Expenses from the program including operating camera infrastructure and customer service amounted to $9.5 million. Combined with another $2 million for [environmental] mitigation efforts, expenses totaled $11.5 million.” MTA posted a link to a March 24 staff presentation on February program revenue.

During the program’s previous (and first) month of operation (from January 5-31, 2025), toll revenue was $48.66 million, expenses amounted to $11.1 million, and net income was $37.5 million, MTA reported.

An Overview Of State Legislative Action On Autonomous Trucking

“Land Line” Magazine provides a roundup of state legislative action related to autonomous trucking. The article looks at:

  • California, and a renewed legislative effort to ban fully autonomous trucking;
  • a Montana bill on truck platooning;
  • calls for autonomous truck studies in Virginia and North Dakota;
  • a Delaware proposal to preliminarily ban fully autonomous trucks; and
  • Texas legislation to set additional rules and standards for AV operation.

According to the article, bills on the topic have died in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, Tennessee and Washington. And in some states where autonomous trucking rules are already on the books, the regulations are now considered outdated.

Japan Phases Out Three-Day-Weekend Toll Discounts

NHK World-Japan reports, “Expressway operators in Japan are scaling back holiday discounts after the lower tolls led to an increase in traffic congestion. The usual 30-percent reduction” — available only to electronic tolling customers — “will no longer apply to 3-day weekends from April.” A gradual rollback of the discount policy started three years ago when reduced rates for New Year, spring, and summer long-weekend travel were eliminated. Operators say the change has been effective in reducing traffic congestion. “The government is also calling for a review of the highway discounts as part of efforts to deal with excessive tourism in some areas.”

Sydney Tunnel Construction Reaches Milestone With Excavation Breakthrough

The Sydney Morning Herald reports, “A 95-tonne piece of excavation equipment smashed through a layer of rock under Sydney’s north shore [today], connecting a $7 billion [USD 4.5 billion] motorway tunnel under Sydney Harbour to one of Australia’s busiest motorways. The joining of the Western Harbour Tunnel to the Warringah Freeway at Cammeray marks a major milestone in the years-long megaproject.” With today’s Stage 2 tunneling breakthrough, the project is about two-thirds complete, however, the most the most challenging phase — tunneling under Sydney Harbor — lies ahead. An AUD 2 billion (USD 1.25 billion) companion project is upgrading the Warringah Freeway. (TRN inserted a link in quoted text.)

The tunnel and freeway projects are the creating the first new harbor crossing roadway in almost 30 years. They are designed to provide a western bypass around Sydney’s central business district and thereby relieve congestion on other facilities, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Harbour Tunnel. The state government intends to toll the new tunnel when it opens in 2028, although it won’t set rates until ongoing negotiations regarding Sydney tolling reform are resolved.

A New South Wales government news release discusses the complexity of the tunnel and freeway construction. Roads minister Jenny Aitchison notes that the Warringah Freeway work “has been likened to doing open heart surgery while trying to run a marathon. It requires new lanes, bridges, overpasses and ramps to be built in and around live traffic while also minimising impacts.” She adds, “The delivery of this tunnel portal right in the middle of one of Australia’s busiest roads is an incredible achievement and we applaud the hard work of everyone working on these projects.”

9News also covers this story.