City's infrastructure report card gets worse

The city is about to release its second infrastructure report card -- and its average is getting worse.

The report, obtained by The Spectator yesterday, outlines the health of the city's roads, parks, transit, water and wastewater systems and other city assets.

Overall, Hamilton's infrastructure earned a C, which is a slip from the C (plus) it received in its first report card issued in 2005. The document, prepared by an external consultant, says the city needs to spend $153 million more each year if it hopes to keep its infrastructure up to date.

Though city council members have received the document to prepare for their mid-January public works meeting, the report card isn't slated to be officially released to the public until the new year.

Of the 11 categories rated in the report card, the worst mark -- a D (minus) -- was awarded to Hamilton's roads and traffic systems, which includes bridges, sidewalks, traffic lights and street signs. This category is the city's most expensive group of assets with the biggest projected shortfall -- $96 million a year.