CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said he’s anxious to see the final report from his Blue Ribbon Commission on Highways. The group met last week to make recommendations on ways to pay for future road needs. The commission will file their full report with the governor after they meet one more time to finalize the plan.
“I look forward to receiving the final report later this month,” said Tomblin.
It’s expected to be on his desk around the 20th. In it, suggestions on ways to fund the state’s overburdened road system.
One of those suggestions is to sell $1-billion in Parkway bonds, extending tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike another 30 years.
A second idea is taxing automobile parts to help make up for some of the shortfall.
Tomblin is hesitant to talk about either option. He said he really wants to sit down and read the full report and all the recommendations before deciding which are the most promising.
“They have put in a lot of time and deserve my complete attention, looking at all aspects of it. That’s what we intend to do in the governor’s office when we receive it,” explained Tomblin.
The commission was hand picked by Tomblin last year. They spent part of this summer holding nine public hearings all across the state listening to what the motoring public had to say about funding West Virginia’s roads.
The most unpopular idea was keeping the tolls in place on the turnpike.