CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A representative for West Virginians for Better Transportation says he’s hoping this is the year for long-term solutions to the Mountain State’s many road problems.
“I was told a long time ago that, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” said Joe Denault on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline” that originated from the State Capitol during the ongoing legislative session.
“If we just wish this problem solved, we’re kidding ourselves.”
West Virginia’s road needs continue to outrun West Virginia’s road funds.
Lawmakers are still awaiting a final report from Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Highways, which was charged with identifying long-term funding sources for highway maintenance and improvements.
According to the commission’s infrastructure subcommittee, it will take an additional $750 million each year to maintain West Virginia’s existing roads, bridges and highways and an additional $380 million annually to pay for key construction or expansion projects during the next 20-25 years.
Currently, funds are inadequate for road maintenance and there is no money available for new construction, the committee said.
“We’ve got to figure out if we want to spend our money on repairing our cars or if we want to spend it on repairing the highways.” — Joe Denault, of West Virginians for Better Transportation
Officials in Morgantown and Monongalia County have been lobbying lawmakers to support what they’re calling “The Local Act,” a proposal that would let county commissions impose a one-percent sales tax to generate road funds. Those revenues potentially would be matched by state and federal dollars.
“I think every tool that is possible to put in the toolbox, we need to put in,” said Denault. “We need to recognize, though, that some of those tools only have a very limited application. There will be only a few counties, if any, that are willing to do that. Most of them look at the state and say, ‘Hey, it’s your problem.'”
With about 36,000 miles of public highways, West Virginia is one of only four states where there is no county or township ownership of highways. The state Division of Highways has authority over the construction, improvement and maintenance of nearly all of those roads.
Denault, who was part of Tuesday’s “Transportation Day” at the State Capitol, said solutions will involve everyone doing their parts.
“It’s going to take leadership. It’s going to take some pain on the part of the citizens to recognize that nothing comes free,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out if we want to spend our money on repairing our cars or if we want to spend it on repairing the highways.”
West Virginia’s state-maintained highway network is the sixth-largest in the United States.