CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An infrastructure report card for West Virginia issued this week didn’t have a glowing reflection on the state of things. However, one of those who helped put it together said there is room for hope.
Rodney Holbert is Co-Chair of the West Virginia Infrastructure Report Card. The state got a D+ overall rating. But Holbert said despite the poor mark, he’s optimistic.
“This report card is good news that it’s going in the right direction. We know it’s going to take a long time, but there’s been so much work going on and you’ve probably seen it as you drive the interstate. A lot of good things have happened and we’re actually optimistic,” Holbert said.
The report card has been in the works for the past five years. During that time, the grade has actually improved.
According to Holbert there were five areas evaluated extensively; Capacity: does the infrastructure meet the current future demands? Condition: What is the existing condition in the near future? Funding: infrastructure needs funding every year, what’s the funding stream coming to operate, maintain, and repair infrastructure? Future Needs: Do we need to expand? Public Safety: Is the infrastructure protecting the public?
“This is our responsibility. This is all a volunteer activity,” said Holbert.
A group of close to 50 engineering students at Fairmont State University helped do the leg work and gather the data in each of those areas. When the students compiled a draft report in each area, engineers were assigned to evaluate those areas of their own expertise whether it be roads, bridges, water, sewer, or broadband to make an honest evaluation of where things stand.
There’s another struggle West Virginia faces unlike any other state. According to Holbert, West Virginia is the only state in the nation which has continuously lost population in the last 70 years.
“With that decline in population we have less rate payers and tax base to pay for infrastructure. A lot of this infrastructure was built in the 1950’s so a lot of it has been a slow decline in deterioration, but now a lot more of it is coming to a point where we need to get it replaced,” he said.
The report card is an unbiased evaluation which gives state lawmakers a guide and something to study to determine where they can direct funding for future projects.
“Here’s our independent, unbiased assessment of infrastructure that the civil engineers of this state have prepared. We let them evaluate how we improve these areas of infrastructure,” said Holbert.