Letter to Robert Byrd

US Senator Robert C. Byrd
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 May 20, 2009

Dear Senator Byrd:

We are writing to urge your support of the appropriations request from US Senator Ben Cardin(D-MD) for the US 220 portion of the proposed North-South Appalachian Corridor in West Virginia and Maryland. Additionally, WVDOT needs approximately $ 2.5 million for its portion of these bi-state preliminary engineering studies required by NEPA.

In a cooperative four state (PA, MD, WV, VA) feasibility study it was forecast that a relocated US 220 four(4) lane divided highway between Interstate 68 in Cumberland, Maryland and Corridor H in West Virginia would generate a 19% increase in permanent jobs or over 8,000 from an existing job base of 43,350 within West Virginia and Maryland. An additional approximately 2,500 jobs would be generated when US Route 219 from I-68 in Maryland to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/76) in Somerset, PA is completed as the northern leg of the North-South Appalachian Corridor.

That is huge for the Potomac Highlands region of our State and your support is critical in this effort.


Sincerely,
Wayne Spiggle,
Mineral Co. Commissioner

Cc: Governor Joe Manchin lll
Congressman Alan Mollohan
Congesswoman Shelly Moore Capito
Secretary Paul A. Mattox

Governor Manchin Request Response

January 30, 2009

Mr. Gary Howell
PO Bo 39
Keyser, WV 26726-0039

Dear Mr. Howell:

Thank you for contacting my office. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns, and particularly the time you took to send them to me.

Your correspondence has been forwarded to the appropriate division in my office for further review.

Please accecpt my most sincere best wishes for the future.

With warmest regardsm
Joe Manchin III
Governor

JM:mrp

November 2006 Minutes

Recorded Attendees: Gary Howell – Mineral County Planning Commission, Lotta Neer – Congressman Alan Mollohan’s Office, Darwin Wolfe – Preston County Commission, Grady Bradfield – Hampshire County, Charles Baker – Hampshire County Planning Commission, Evelyn Baker-Hampshire County Planning Commission, William Wood-WVDOH Charleston, Wayne Spiggle-Mineral County Commission, Ken Musgrave-Mineral County, Dave Beard-Garrett County Commission, Brian Car – WVDOH Charleston, Donald Cookman-Hampshire County Commission, Law Spangler-Hampshire County Planning Commission, Mitch Davis-Hampshire County, John Reisenweber-Congresswoman Shelly Capito’s Office, Marc Bashoor-Mineral County Emergency Management, Steve Slonaker-Hampshire County Commission.

Opening: Lunch took place at the Loy Foundation in Romney, WV. Steve Slonaker welcomed everyone to the meeting, and also took the time to speak highly of Scott Kimble which recently lost his life in a collision on US 50 in Hampshire County.

Introductions: During introductions Outgoing Garrett County Commissioner Dave Beard and Preston County’s Darwin Wolfe were recognized for their service and perfect attendance of the US 50 Association. It was announced that Dennis Glotfelty of Garrett County, and Craig Jennings of Preston County would be taking over for their respective counties. Dave Beard also stated that group was having an impact on safety and improvements along the road. Darwin Wolfe indicated this is shown when the representatives of the congressional delegation are regularly attending the meetings.

Old Business: Taylor County's lack of attendance in an official capacity was brought up. Wayne Spiggle requested that an official letter be sent to the Taylor County Commission. Gary Howell volunteered to construct the letter.

Discussion was held that US 50 was one of the most dangerous roads in West Virginia, and it is believed that it is more dangerous than US 35 which the governor has identified as a priority for safety. Brian Carr and Bill Woods of WVDOH presented numbers of traffic collisions along both US 35 and US 50. Bill Woods indicated that you could interpret the numbers in different ways. While the worst section US 35 in Putnam County had about 100 more traffic collisions between 2003 and 2006 than worst section of US 50 did, US 50 had 2 more deaths in the same time period. It was pointed out with the higher volume of traffic on US 35 (nearly double) statistically per mile driven your odds on having a collision on US 50 are much higher.

Evelyn Baker asked what we needed to do to get Governor Manchin to request the priority projects identified by each county be put on the states 6-year plan. Wayne Spiggle asked Gary Howell to construct a letter to the Governor and the Commissioner of Transportation requesting the small projects list be made a priority.

John Reisenweber of Congresswoman Capito’s Office stated that the meeting between the Hampshire County delegation and the US Secretary of Transportation was productive. US 50 is now on the radar of the US Department of Transportation for needing upgrading.

Marc Bashoor of Mineral County EMS spoke on US 50 being an evacuation route for DC in an emergency and that the road could not handle the traffic. Both Lotta Neer of Congressman Mollohan’s office and John Reisenweber believed that funding could not be secured for road improvements based on the possibility of a mass exodus of the DC area.

Ken Musgrave of Mineral County volunteered to put together a power point presentation for the Secretary of Transportation to push the need for upgrades on US 50. Wayne Spiggle asked Gary Howell to help, and he agreed.

Gary Howell spoke on a phone conversation he had with the WV Secretary of Transportation on the stated policy of building all 4-lane roads only on new alignments. Gary pointed out that by using the existing 2-lane as Virginia does for one side of the road it can save 30% to 35% on construction cost of a 4-lane road. He felt that the state should take a serious look at changing its policy, so that more 4-lane roads can be built with the same amount of funding. Many sections of US 50 could be upgraded in this way to reduce the cost. Bill Woods stated that has been the policy of WVDOH, but that may be changing as they state is currently looking at upgrading sections of US 35 by using the existing road as one side of a 4-lane.

Citizen Concerns: None

January Meeting:

Mineral County will host the next meeting on January 17^th at a place to be determined.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:17.

Preston County Meeting

U. S. Route 50 Association

Minutes for September 21, 2005 Meeting

Melanie’s Family Restaurant

Aurora, West Virginia 26705

Present:

Wayne Spiggle	788-3924	Facilitator / Mineral
Dave Sypolt	davesypolt@atlanticbb.net	Preston
Michael Bland	mbland@mineralcountywv.com	Mineral
David Stemple		Preston
Delores Stemple		Preston
Mona Ridder	Times-News	WV / MD
Arvin Harsh	735-3261	Preston / Eglon
Dave Moe	301-616-3448	Garrett
L. Darwin Wolfe	265-1658 or 265-1659	Preston Commissioner
Evelyn Baker	304-822-3647	Hampshire
Gary Howell	304-788-5391	Mineral
Brian Carr	304-558-9580	WVDOH – Charleston
Vicki Cole	304-329-1805	Preston Commissioner
William Wood	304-558-6922	WVDOH – Charleston
Terri L. Funk	304-290-1122	Preston Assessor & COC
Dave Price	304-329-1805	Preston Commissioner
Peggy Jamison	301-334-8981	Garrett
Robert Amtower	304-289-3521	WVDOH – District Five

Introductions:

Meeting was called to order by Dr. Wayne Spiggle at 1:00 PM and self introductions were made around the room.

Minutes:

Minutes from the July 20, 2005 meeting were reviewed and approved as written.

Comments on “Building of U. S. Route 50:

Presented by Arvin Harsh, a brief discussion about how U. S. Route 50 was built with manual labor and horses. Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone made visits to see about logging and industrialization of the areas along where U. S. Route 50 now resides.

Regional Review:

Hampshire County, reported by Evelyn Baker, said Senator Byrd has been helpful. A letter from Senator Byrd’s office was read to the group. A study and report dated August 4, 2005 from WVDOH Planning and Research Division which reviews and analyses safety along the US Route 50 will be forwarded. The 6 year plan is updated every quarter and is next published to cover January 2006 through December 2011. The six year plan is published on the Internet at: http://www.wvdot.com/6-year-plan/

To successfully promote US Route 50 improvements, we must have Governor Manchin on board with our agenda. Some funding has been extended for homeland security which may be a source for transportation improvements also. The Federal Highway Bill passed but the State must match funds.

There were two fatal car accidents near Capon and one new fatality in Hampshire.

Mineral County, reported by Robert Amtown, there have been several accidents at U. S. Route 50 and U. S. Route 220 at top of Knobley Mountain. It has been recommended that an all way stop be installed there to force drivers to stop and look. Public is generally against that plan. The Director of Transportation has personally viewed the intersection. Possible help by installing a rumble strip.

Grant County is dealing with the Corp of Engineers on road improvements.

Garrett County, reported by Peggy Jamison, was focusing on improvements with the intersections of U. S. Route 50 with Routes 219 and 560.

Preston County, reported by L. Darwin Wolfe, expects minimal improvements on U. S. Route 50. We have some areas needing guide (guard) rail installation and improvements. The bank East of the intersection at Fellowsville School needs scraped back to improve site distance; also, Route 24 and U. S. Route 50 intersection at Aurora should be converted into a “T” intersection. The Commission has primarily been working with the Preston County Chamber of Commerce to improve WV Route 7.

Taylor County has not been represented at the last few meetings.

Old Business:

Bill Wood and Brian Carr reported that with State matching funds for Federal Highway Dollars, there will be $3 million in U. S. Route 50 improvements this year alone. The cost are approximately $50 – 60 k per mile to re-surface and $275 – 400 k per mile for upgrade to Federal standards. A question was asked about clear zones beside highways and who is responsible if a tree falls on a highway.

On North – South Corridor to connect Corridor H with Interstate 68, Dave Moe cited an “upper management delay.” Bill Wood reported that in 2003 funding became available and very little else was done. In 2004 mapping was updated, a memo of understanding between the administration and environmental, and a short list was compiled by late fall. Some environmental issues were settled in January 2005 and a Tier 1 study was begun. Expected to have a scope settled in next two months.

Dave Moe stated that it is not beneficial to jump ahead quickly without exhausting the environmental studies and carefully planning with regard to environmental impacts.

New Business:

An attempt will be made to get involvement from Taylor County; an effort should be made to make new contacts and attempt to get input from their County Officials.

We discussed having the meetings every two months and decided to continue on that schedule.

It was decided to continue dialogue with US Senator Byrd’s office and work to get Governor Manchin on board with the economic stimulus of improving U. S. Route 50. Tourism through motorcycle and bicycle sponsored events will bring dollars into the area and place a focus on the importance of U. S. Route 50. We have o be careful that our efforts do not preclude the ability to improve U. S. Route 50 for future industry and commerce.

Adjourn:

The meeting was adjourned at 2:18 PM. We will attempt to get a meeting set up for Taylor County with the help of their officials on the third Wednesday of November. Dinner at 12:00 and meeting at 1:00 PM