State Infrastructure Averages “C”, in Line with National Trends

A recent report puts Maryland’s infrastructure at a “C”, consistent for the 5th year running and in line with national trends. 

Maryland’s 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, developed by the Maryland Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, retains an overall grade of “C,” signaling that core systems remain operational but require sustained and, in many cases, increased investment to meet current and future demands. Facilities and networks that intersect most directly with county responsibilities — including local roads, stormwater, wastewater, and smaller bridge assets — are performing adequately but are vulnerable to aging infrastructure, rising construction costs, and higher regulatory expectations.

The report considers several categories, with Maryland’s rankings ranging from B to D+. Facilities and services owned and operated by county governments include:

  • Bridges: B- (MD); C (US)
  • Drinking Water: C (MD); C- (US)
  • Roads: C- (MD); D+ (US)
  • Solid Waste: B (MD); C+ (US)
  • Stormwater: C+ (MD); D (US)
  • Transit: D+ (MD); D (US)
  • Wastewater: C+ (MD); D+ (US)

B = Good, Adequate for Now; C = Mediocre, Requires Attention; D= Poor, At Risk

Counties are responsible for operating and maintaining substantial portions of the state’s public infrastructure network, often with limited, non-inflationary revenue sources. The county share of highway user revenues, for example, which are mainly funded through the state’s gas tax, was drastically cut during the Great Recession and never fully restored. This means that local resources meant to fund other infrastructure and services have been redirected for years to road and transit maintenance. Providing counties with more predictable state resources, along with flexibility to direct those funds to locally identified pressure points, would enable more timely maintenance, resilience upgrades, and smarter investments.

The current state of Maryland’s infrastructure becomes even more critical for housing initiatives. New or higher-density housing requires available transportation, schools, water and sewer services, and stormwater systems that meet current standards. Where these systems are constrained, counties must delay, phase, or scale projects even when they are consistent with state housing priorities. Stronger, more resilient infrastructure means more capacity to support further growth.

Read the full Maryland report. 

Read the full national report. 

Maryland’s infrastructure landscape will be front and center at the 2025 MACo Winter Conference. The session, “Highway User Revenues: The Lifeline of Local Roads,” will unpack the history and importance of HUR, its role in county budgets, and why maintaining local shares is critical to sustaining safe, reliable infrastructure across Maryland..

MACo’s Winter Conference, “Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD, on December 10-12, 2024.

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: