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RALEIGH – The American Society of Civil Engineers gave North Carolina's infrastructure an overall grade of C- Tuesday in its 2009 report card.

The ASCE graded North Carolina individually in nine infrastructure areas. State Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said a C- is nothing to brag about.

“I will say that if I brought this report card home to my mother when I was a kid, I would not be very happy," Conti said. "She wouldn't be either.”

There is some good news. Drinking water went from a C+ in 2006, when the last report was issued, to a B- in 2009.

But bridges, the rail system, schools, storm water and waste water all received grades of a C+ or lower. In fact, all received the same grade in 2006 except for the rail system, which received a worse grade. In 2006, it was graded a B-, now it’s a C. But waste water did improve from a C- to a C+.

State leaders said the report should be a wake-up call.

“We've got to do some serious reflection on what we want the state to be and how we're going to get it there with regards to these issues,” Rep. Nelson Cole, D-Rockingham County, said. “It's frustrating from my perspective, along with the other legislators, to see these infrastructure needs that are not being met at this point in time.”

The worst grades were given to dams, airports and roads. They all received a D.

The American Society of Civil Engineers said despite large construction efforts, little has been done to address pavement conditions at airports.

For roads, there's an estimated $60 billion funding shortfall over the next 25 years.

Even though the state expects money from the economic stimulus plan to help, civil engineers said to expect a long road ahead.

“Money, we feel, is a down payment on the problem. However, it is not a solution to the problem,” David Peterson, of the ASCE, said.

Grades are determined based on general condition, performance and the ability to meet funding and service needs.

On the national level, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the country a D.