Report: U.S. Infrastructure Crumbling
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Crowded schools, traffic-choked roads and transit cutbacks are eroding the quality of American life, according to an analysis by civil engineers that gave the nation's infrastructure an overall grade of D.
A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (search) released Wednesday assessed the four-year trend in the condition of 12 categories of infrastructure, including roadways, bridges, drinking water systems, public parks, railroads and the power grid.
The overall grade slipped from the D-plus given to the infrastructure in 2001 and 2003.
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"Americans are spending more time stuck in traffic and less time at home with their families," William Henry, the group's president, said in a statement.
The report said $1.6 trillion should be spent over the next five years to alleviate potential problems with the nation's infrastructure. Transportation alone requires $94 billion in annual spending, the report said.
The House is to begin debate Wednesday on a six-year, $284 billion highway and mass transit bill, which stalled last year in a money dispute between the White House (search) and Congress.
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The report concluded that airports will face the challenge of accommodating more regional jets and super-jumbo jets. Grade: D-plus.
It's uncertain, the report said, whether schools can handle growing enrollment and smaller class sizes required by the No Child Left Behind Act (search). Grade: D.
The report also noted that many transit systems are borrowing money to maintain operations as they're raising fees and cutting back service. Grade: D-plus.