The status of a state’s infrastructure is key to evaluating the quality of life for its citizens. The infrastructure category is one of eight categories driving the overall Best States rankings and takes into account metrics such as a state’s use of renewable energy, the quality of its roads and bridges, and its residents’ access to high-speed internet.

Virginia is a step ahead of the national average of ‘C-‘ given in the 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Nine of the 11 categories ranked higher than the national grades, as only rail (‘C-‘ compared to the national ‘B’ grade) and wastewater (tied with the national grade of ‘D+’) ranked the same or lower, a testament to the state’s prioritization of its built environment. Virginia has implemented ambitious plans to improve each of its infrastructure systems and additional resources from the state level and the bipartisan infrastructure law will help these efforts. Civil engineers graded bridges (B), dams (C+), drinking water (C+), public parks (C), rail (C-), roads (C-), schools (C-), solid waste (B-), stormwater (C-), transit (C-), and wastewater (D+).

PJM Interconnection LLC is a regional transmission organization in the United States. It is part of the Eastern Interconnection grid operating an electric transmission system serving all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Virginia, Railroads Plan Major Infrastructure Investments

Virginia has finalized agreements with Amtrak and CSX to launch a 10-year, $3.7-billion expansion of the state’s freight, commuter, and passenger rail network, including construction of a new Potomac River crossing to relieve a longstanding rail traffic chokepoint.

In addition to the new bridge, estimated to cost $1.9 billion, Virginia will spend approximately $525 million to acquire 386 miles of railroad right-of-way and 223 miles of track from CSX to support planned new service by Amtrak and the DC-area Virginia Rail Express commuter system, as well as lay the foundation for future passenger rail service to other parts of the state and a Southeast high-speed rail line.

The state will also spend more than $1 billion in additional infrastructure projects in the Richmond-Washington rail corridor, much of which is wide enough to accommodate dedicated double-tracks for both passenger and freight service.

Virginia is in the middle of the pack nationally, ranking 25th in the number of structurally deficient bridges, according to fresh data from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. Of Virginia’s nearly 14,000 bridges, only 530, or 3.8 percent, are rated structurally deficient.