Utah

2015 Report Card GPA:
C+

FEMA estimates that 72 miles of Utah’s existing levees will require assessment in the immediate future. While there is an increased focus on levee evaluation nationally after recent costly failures, information regarding the condition of the majority of the levees across Utah is largely unknown. Risks associated with unassessed levees could lead to significant increases in flood protection requirements and insurance costs to home and property owners. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently tracking roughly 21 miles of levees within the state as part of the National Levee Database; of these, 19.5 miles are considered unacceptable and only 1.5 are considered minimally acceptable. If the remaining levees are in similar condition, this is highly concerning. As recently as 2011, the impact of serious flooding from inadequate levees was seen in Weber County, which highlights the potential risks of inadequate or poorly maintained levees that protect homes and businesses.

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Utah Infrastructure Grades

2015 Report Card GPA:
C+
Bridges
B+
Canals
D+
Dams
B-
Drinking Water
C
Hazardous Waste
C+
Levees
D-
Roads
B+
Solid Waste
B-
Transit
B+
Wastewater & Stormwater
C+

A: Exceptional, B: Good, C: Mediocre, D: Poor, F: Failing, ?: Incomplete

Each category was evaluated on the basis of capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation

Key Facts About Utah Infrastructure

Aviation

36 public-use airports

Bridges

117 of the 2,974 bridges are structurally deficient

Bridges

$10.70 million in bridge funds came from the Federal Highway Bridge Fund in 2011

Dams

100% of the state regulated dams have an Emergency Action Plan

Dams

201 high hazard dams

Drinking Water

$3.7 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years

Energy

1.476 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy every year, ranking it 43rd

Hazardous Waste

15 sites on the National Priorities List

Levees

72 miles of levees

Public Parks

$356.0 million of unmet needs for its parks system

Rail

8 freight railroads covering 1,356 miles across the state, ranking 38th nationally by mileage

Roads

4,692 of the state’s 45,891 public roads are major roads, and 4% are in poor condition

Roads

$527.0 million a year in costs to motorists from driving on roads in need of repair, which is $295 /yr per motorist

Schools

$3.1 billion in estimated school infrastructure funding needs

Transit

40.3 million annual unlinked passenger trips via transit systems including bus, transit, and commuter trains

Wastewater

$2.9 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years

Sources

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