(Photo by Caity Coyne/West Virginia Watch)
By Caity Coyne for West Virginia Watch
As West Virginia leaders plan to make economic development a cornerstone of the 2026 legislative session, a new report published Wednesday shows the state has far to go – both technically and financially – in addressing basic infrastructure needs.
The report, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ West Virginia Section, has the state receiving an average of a “D+” grade for its infrastructure. It accounts for 18 infrastructure categories, ranging from roads, bridges and dams to school facilities, drinking water, broadband and more.
ASCE publishes these state-specific report cards about every four years. The most recent one published in West Virginia, according to Tabitha Lafferre, the president of the ASCE’s West Virginia Section, was in 2020 and only covered five infrastructure categories. That year, she said, the state received a “D.”
At a news conference on Wednesday, Lafferre said it was good to see the state improve slightly in its infrastructure status. But, she continued, it’s clear that much work remains to be done.
“This [D+] is still two notches below the national grade of a C, and unfortunately, it’s not a grade that we can find acceptable if we want an infrastructure network that can protect our residents and businesses sufficiently,” Lafferre said. “However, this represents progress and I will say, it’s something that we should be proud of.”
Seven of the 18 categories detailed in the report card – aviation, broadband, dams, drinking water, roads, school building infrastructure and wastewater – included estimates on how much funding will be needed to both maintain current infrastructure and meet potential future needs. Those seven categories alone totaled nearly $13 billion in estimated funding needs over the next several years.
The report card emphasized that extreme weather events in West Virginia – which are becoming increasingly common due to climate change – present massive challenges in addressing infrastructure needs. Other challenges highlighted in the report throughout several categories include the state’s population decline, rapidly aging and out-of-date infrastructure, rugged natural terrain and funding restraints.
Throughout the state report, authors stressed the importance of federal funding in both upkeeping and improving the state’s existing infrastructure.
The report does not account for previously allocated federal infrastructure funding sources – grants and otherwise – that have been under threat by the Trump administration over the past year. Those include initiatives passed by Congress through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act, which were both signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2021.
Lafferre, responding to a question regarding federal funding instability, said Wednesday that part of the reason the report card is compiled is to show lawmakers – statewide and federally – how critical it is to protect and increase funding for infrastructure initiatives.
“One of the most fundamental things about the report card is we can use it as a tool to take to our legislators to show, you know, this is the reason we need more funding,” Lafferre said. “The IIJA is great. But it was a one time thing. We need that (funding) consistently across the state to improve our efforts.”
Lafferre called the state’s infrastructure systems the “backbone of West Virginia’s economy.”
“When it’s functioning as planned, it’s often out of sight, out of mind,” Lafferre said. “But when infrastructure encounters a serious problem or a system fails, the consequences can affect people’s quality of life and have serious, widespread economic impact.”
Rodney Holbert, the region four governor for the statewide ASCE chapter, said improving the state’s infrastructure and ensuring funding is secured to address future needs is crucial if the state wants to build up its economy.
“The future of our state relies on our ability to maintain and improve upon the current conditions of these infrastructure networks,” Holbert said. “These systems drive economic growth, create jobs, improve public health and protect us from environmental threats.”
West Virginia’s below-average infrastructure grade comes as state leaders plan on making economic development a cornerstone of the upcoming legislative session. Republicans in the state House of Delegates said earlier this month that they want to see heavy investment and innovation for the state’s aviation industry. Per the report card, the state’s airports are estimated to need at least $132 million in infrastructure investments over the next five years to adequately operate.
Throughout his first year in office, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has repeatedly touted his “Backyard Brawl” economic growth plan, which aims to see West Virginia compete more aggressively with surrounding states in recruiting businesses, increasing development opportunities and more.
Per the ASCE, every state surrounding the Mountain State – Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania – received higher average infrastructure grades than West Virginia in their most recent report cards.
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The 2025 ASCE Report Card for West Virginia’s Infrastructure was compiled by a committee of more than 25 civil engineers from throughout the state with support from about 50 former Fairmont State University Students.
The infrastructure report card is published about every four years, with the last statewide report coming out in 2020.
The 2025 report looked at 18 infrastructure categories and used several metrics – including the condition of the infrastructure, its current and future capacity, funding sources compared to estimated future needs, operation and maintenance needs and more – to assign letter grades.
Grades given in each of the categories are meant to reflect how the infrastructure itself is performing, not the work done by individuals to maintain and upkeep it.
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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
