WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the U.S. House and Senate on the conference committee working on a new multiyear federal highway bill hope to produce a report on a proposed agreement sometime next week.
If approved by a Dec. 4 deadline, the compromise bill would be the first in a decade.
“Since 2005 we’ve only had a bill longer than two years one time,” West Virginia Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox told MetroNews recently. “We’ve worked (under) 35 extensions. It’s going to be a relief.”
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin sent the conference committee a letter last week urging members to include ways to fund projects important to West Virginia in the bill.
“West Virginia has 38,000 miles of public roads, many of which are in poor condition and in need of repair,”Manchin’s letter said. “We are in serious need of a federal, long-term funding bill that goes beyond the status quo to address our state’s and nation’s infrastructure needs. Projects like the King Coal Highway, Coalfields Expressway and Corridor H have been put on hold for too long. The time is now to truly invest in these projects and others that will improve our infrastructure, create jobs, boost economic development and improve conditions in our local communities.”
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she had “very good confidence” the process would emerge with a “bipartisan, robust highway bill.”
The bills from both chambers guarantee funding for half of the six-year period but that depends on negotiations to come up with the other three years. The House bill would spend $261 billion on highways.
West Virginia First District Congressman David McKinley predicts an agreement will be reached.
“I think there’s a very likelihood this is going to be a compromise that we’re going to have some increase on a lot of ideas,” McKinley said.
Predictable federal funding is a big piece of the puzzle as West Virginia tries to take steps to improve its road issues, Mattox said.
“It’s going to be a relief having the belief there’s going to be a six-year highway bill we can work with,” he said.