Public
infrastructure is a vital part of everyday life. However, we often forget it’s
there unless we hit a pothole or our bus service gets cancelled. But those roads
don’t fix themselves. It takes a lot of money to build and maintain
infrastructure. Data collected during the 2020 Census informs the federal
government on how it should make funding decisions for highways, bridges,
railways, airports and other infrastructure projects. Yes — even filling that
pothole outside your house!
How the
Census affects your road and so much more
Census
results influence highway planning, construction and other infrastructure
projects through the hundreds of billions in federal funding distributed among
the states each year. In West Virginia, that money goes directly to paving your
roads and keeping them in good repair. And in West Virginia, the Department of
Transportation’s Division of Highways manages more than 34,000 miles of state
roads.
So, why is
getting counted during the 2020 Census such a big deal? Each uncounted person
results in a loss of $2,000 in federal funding each year. Imagine if 100 people
in your area didn’t get counted. Over 10 years, that’s a loss of $2 million for
roads, infrastructure improvements and many other projects and programs, such
as education, healthcare and public safety.
Every
person counts!
Building
a future
It’s not
just roads. Sidewalks, grants for buses and other public transit systems are
all affected by Census results. Think about what would happen to your community
if the roads in and out disappeared or if your town’s bus service ended.
There’s a good chance your town wouldn’t be able to survive. You see, public
infrastructure fuels our economy. Without it, you lose easy access to
groceries, medicine, clothing and many other consumables.
That’s why
you need to respond to the 2020 Census and make sure West Virginia keeps
getting the money it needs to pave your roads and keep you connected to the
rest of the world.
Respond
to the Census
West
Virginia’s transportation infrastructure counts on you. West Virginia’s future
counts on you. The Census only happens every 10 years, so how you respond today
will impact your community every day for the next decade.
So, be counted. Learn
more here.