Garrett County Meeting Minutes

Rt. 50 ASSOCIATION MEETING

7-21-04 at 1 pm

Penn Alps, Grantsville, MD

Garrett County Commissioner Dave Beard welcomed the group to his home

county and gave a quick verbal tour.

Introductions and Agenda

Wayne Spiggle as facilitator made the introductions and introduced the

agenda.

Minutes

The group approved the minutes from the May 19, 2004 meeting.

New Members

Spiggle led conversation about increasing the group to include Barbour

County, WV who has not had any representation until this point.

Naming of 2-state portion of Rt. 50

Naming of the 2-state portion of Rt. 50 was discussed extensively.

Northwestern Turnpike, George Washington Highway and Rt. 50 were

suggested. It was also noted that this group was not a democracy and

was ruled by consensus. Commissioner Dave Beard made a motion to table

this issue, Les Shoemaker seconded and the group agreed.

Scenic By-way Task Force

Deb Clatterbuck reported that the Scenic Byway Task Force had met on

July 14th and discussed the Federal Scenic Byways program. The most

significant benefit in being a Byway is the 80/20 match of funds from

the federal government. There are strict sign regulations such as been

brought to light by the George’s Creek Coal Heritage Trail. The Task

Force recommends tabling this issue until dual lane and alternate

routes can be reviewed which may leave portions of the original

roadbeds to be designated as Scenic By-ways.

The Task Force then discussed the need to lobby the politicians on

state ands federal levels to gain support for our project at this

crucial political time. The group decided to change the Scenic Byway

Task Force to the Rt. 50 Federal Liaison Committee to gather political

support for initiatives and future funding. Deb Clatterbuck will chair

this committee.

Rt. 50 Study

Discussion was led by Brian Carr, WVDOT, on the 3 layers of roadway

enhancements. Traffic dictates improvements; decisive factors are

accidents, passing problems, bridges, straightening curves, high volume

intersections and turn lanes. A 3-tier goal system in more successful.

Smaller projects like turning and passing lanes seem to be more

immediate. Mid-grade projects such as realignment of roadways and

bridges take more time and money. High level projects like 4-lane

roadways require the most planning.

Senator Jon Hunter and Taylor County DOT Larry Weaver pointed out that

building roadways does not always bring growth. Western West Virginia

still hosts a 4-lane section that has not been developed. Grady

Bradfield suggested using existing road as 2-lane in one direction and

building a second parallel roadway for opposing traffic.

Brian Carr stated there was a need to gather info including roadway

classifications, arterial route priorities, design criteria, expected

level of service opportunities, effects of Corridor H, highway capacity

analysis, high hazard study, 20 years of traffic reports and the impact

on Economic Development along the route.

Dave Moe made a motion that the group support a long term goal for a

4-lane roadway that would meet or exceed the existing plan for the

multi-state area of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Grady

Bradfield seconded and it carried.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 in

Romney, WV at the Coca Cola Plant.

Adjournment

Wayne Spiggle adjourned the meeting at 2:25 pm