As ASCE prepares to celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2027, Civil Engineering Source is looking at how various Society and civil engineering subjects have ebbed and flowed Through the Years.
It’s built up such a profile over the years, to the public it’s what ASCE is best known for.
The Report Card for America’s Infrastructure has served as a snapshot every four years of the state of the built environment in the U.S., often sounding an alarm about the need to invest in maintenance and upgrades. It also provides possible solutions.
Its influence has grown to the point that the 2021 edition helped lead to passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the $800 million Inflation Reduction Act that year.
“The report card has evolved into the go-to report on U.S. infrastructure,” ASCE 2023 President Maria Lehman said in 2025. “Elected officials from local, regional, state, and federal (governments) all have an awareness and respect for what we do, as well as media across the spectrum. Even the financial industry uses the report card when making infrastructure decisions.”
Now including grades in 17 categories, the report card has become such an effort by the ASCE members who volunteer their time that it can’t be issued more often than every four years.
Take a look at the report card’s modest beginnings in 1998 and highlights of what the reports have achieved.
C-SPANHow it began in 1998
"Before 1998, the public had adopted a fair understanding of what 'infrastructure' was, but not of its scope. People knew a little about civil engineers, but not how extensive their work and reach was (and is)."
The first report card on the ASCE website in 1998
"America’s civil engineers rate our infrastructure and identify more than $1 trillion in needs..."
ASCE celebrates 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signing
"ASCE’s advocacy efforts have given civil engineers a proverbial seat at the table for years as elected leaders and policymakers at all levels of government craft infrastructure legislation."
The 2025 report card and its highest-ever C average
"Eight categories saw improved grades, seven stayed the same, and two slipped."
The attention the report card receives in news coverage
How the report card gets made
“Every time we do this, I’m shocked by how much I learn about infrastructure and how it’s all related as a system of systems. It is a great process with a great group of experts."
Where we are now
"All the various grades in need of improvement risk painting a bleak picture. Yes, there are challenges ahead, but there are also solutions."
Dennis TruaxExplore more of the ASCE Through the Years series.
