ASCE New Jersey Section
2007 Report Card for New Jersey's Infrastructure
A=Exceptional
B=Good
C=Mediocre
D=Poor
F=Failing Aviation: (Grade D)
Air travel and traffic are projected to grow 4.3% annually through 2015. Newark Liberty International Airport ranks first in the nation for delayed arrivals, and third in the nation for the most delayed airport departures.
Bridges: (Grade D)
Thirty-six percent of New Jersey's bridges are structurally deficient
or functionally obsolete. Current funding levels are not enough to
keep pace with the deterioration of NJ bridges. A total annual
investment of at least $1.7B over the next ten years is required to
eliminate the backlog.
Drinking Water: (Grade C)
New Jersey has a drinking water infrastructure investment funding gap
of at least $60 million per year. The EPA estimates that $6.9 billion
in capital investments are needed over the next 20 years to install,
upgrade and replace New Jersey's drinking water infrastructure. The
development of a comprehensive asset management program is required.
Energy: (Grade C+)
New Jersey ranks 13th in the Nation in total power consumption. Over
time, increasing demand will require increased generation capacity
and the upgrade and improvement of the transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Dams: (Grade C-)
As recently as 2004, 13 dams failed and 15 others were damaged when
13 inches of rain fell in 12 hours, causing an estimated $50 million
in damages. A total of 310 high hazard and significant hazard dams
are in need of repair, estimated at $300 million. Seventy percent of
New Jersey dams are not in compliance with inspection requirements
outlined by the state.
Parks and Recreation: (Grade C-)
The funding need and the race for acquisition of open lands pose
great challenges to the continued success of the various programs
dedicated to Public Parks and Recreation in New Jersey.
Roads: (Grade D)
New Jersey roads accommodate over 75 billion vehicle miles traveled
each year and total 36,000 miles in length. Forty-nine percent of the
New Jersey Highway system is deficient based on roughness and surface
distress measurements. In 2005 NJ motorists paid a total of $3.2
billion in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs due to poor road conditions.
Wastewater: (Grade D)
Each sewage authority in NJ is required to prepare a Water Quality
Management Plan. Federal funding for the New Jersey Clean Water State
Revolving Fund has declined 51 percent, and applications for new
projects have risen 29 percent. The current estimate to repair the
wastewater infrastructure throughout the state is $15 billion.
Without intervention sewerage demand is expected to exceed available
treatment capacity by 2016.
Ports and Navigable Waterways: (Grade C)
There are major seaports and marine terminals located in the northern
and the southern regions of the state. They directly serve the
immediate 26 county region providing 122,547 direct jobs and 110,000
indirect jobs, contributing more than $15.5 billion in economic
activity annually to the region, and more than $2 billion in state
and local tax revenues.