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

Hampshire County Minutes

Minutes

September 19^th, 2007

Recorded Attendees: Gary Howell – Mineral County, Wayne Spiggle-Mineral County Commission, Mona Ridder-Cumberland Times-News, Bob Fisher MDSHA, Brian Carr – WVDOH Charleston, Dave Moe – GC Development Corp, Tom Conlon – Cumberland, MD, Larry Lemon – Sen. Rockefeller Office, Robert Hott – Hampshire County Commission, Steve Sloanaker – Hampshire County Commission, Michael OO’Brian – Hampshire Review, Charlie Baker – Hampshire County Planner, Ken Musgrave – Mineral County, Les Shoemaker – Hampshire County Dev. Auth., Bill Woods – WVDOH Charleston, Cate Johnson – Congressman Mollohan Office.

Introductions: Steve Sloanaker welcomed the group to Taggart Hall where the meeting was held.

Old Business: Wayne Spiggle presented the group with a letter from Senator Byrd thanking the association for visiting his office in Washington asking for funding for upgrades to US 50 and US 220. In the letter Sen. Byrd stated, “The failure of the 109^th Congress to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 appropriations legislation in a timely manor has resulted in the suspension of earmarks for the duration of FY 2007.”

David Moe and Charlie Baker both gave reports on the meeting with Sen. Byrd. They stated the group would like to see a 4-lane US 50 from Virginia state line to Clarksburg as a long term goal, but had additional request.

Baker stated that West Virginia has 4 projects DOH is funneling the bulk of highway construction money into, those are; The Mon-Fayette Expressway (Morgantown Bypass), Corridor H, US Route 35, and WV State Route 9. To move US 50 to a priority, it has to have the support of Governor Manchin.

Moe requested funding for the West Virginia portion of the US 220 Tier 2 study, explaining that Maryland has its funding source secured. This would enable the study to move forward quickly upon completion of the Tier 1 study currently underway.

He also requested that a bill making the North-South US 220 Corridor part of the Appalachian Development Highway System be introduced. This would secure funding for US 220 from the same source as Corridor H, and make US 220 Corridor O.

Gary Howell explained that the US 220 Corridor is becoming more important as a new traffic pattern is emerging on the east coast. Heavy Truck traffic traveling between the Port of Norfolk and the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit area is shifting from the I-64, I-95, DC Beltway, I-270, I70, PA/OH Turnpike route to a route that uses I-64, I-95, US 17, I-66, Corridor H, US 220, I-68, I-79, PA/OH Turnpike. A route that is less than 30 miles longer, but is saving more than 2 hours off of travel time by missing the heavy Washington DC traffic.

Howell also requested that Rep. Mollohan also introduce a bill on house side similar to the Senate bill requested of Byrd. He stated this would give the bill a better chance of passing.

New Business: Les Shoemaker, Hampshire County Economic Development Director, requested that the group push for the new 4-lane US 220 to follow the route of the existing US 220 from Moorefield to Cumberland. This would provide the greatest economic impact the area and help facilitate the new traffic pattern better.

Wayne Spiggle said the group should wait to check with the different county commission before making such a decision, but was reminded that at the March 2006 meeting the Association had already made that request.

Shoemaker also asked why a 3-lane project on US 50 through Romney was dropped from the WVDOH’s 6-year plan. Brain Carr of WVDOH explained that there has been some opposition to the project, and that the project was not 15 years old. Being 15 years had elapsed, that a new study would need to be done because of the changes that have occurred over that time.

Charlie Baker stated that Hampshire County was willing to fund some projects that were needed on US 50; but that WVDOH could not guarantee that the money would be used on that specific project. Bill Woods of WVDOH said the must have been some miscommunication and he would check into why Hampshire County was told that.

He went on to state that a new law allows counties to raise user taxes to fund road projects. It would be mostly used by larger counties for large projects, but smaller counties could use it for small projects that may include improving intersections.

The meeting adjourned at 2:07, with the next meeting to be held in Mineral County on November 21^st.

November Meeting:

Mineral County is next on the schedule to host the November 21^th meeting.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:07.

March 2007 Minutes

Recorded Attendees: Gary Howell – Mineral County Planning Commission, Charles Baker – Hampshire County Planning Commission, Evelyn Baker-Hampshire County, James Baker-Hampshire County, Wayne Spiggle-Mineral County Commission, Richard Fagley-Garrett County, Frank Whitacre-Hampshire County Assessor, Mona Ridder-Cumberland Times-News, Bob Fisher MDSHA, Lotta Neer – Congressman Mollohan’s Office, Cindy Wetzel – Grant County Administrator, David Sypolt – Senator WV14^th District, Thomas Conlon - Allegany County, Robert Hott – Hampshire County.

Opening & Introductions: Lunch took place at the Hermitage in Petersburg, WV. Cindy Wetzel welcomed everyone to the meeting. A specific welcome was made to Senator Sypolt.

Old Business:

Discussion was held about Senator Clark Barnes, WV 15^th District, offer to set up a meeting between the committee and WV Senator Byrd. It was suggested that when meeting with Senator Byrd, that the ultimate goal of a 4-lane US 50 be stressed. Further that US 50 is the most dangerous road in WV per mile driven. Senator Barnes not being in attendance further discussion was tabled until he could be contacted.

Wayne Spiggle spoke that due to a schedule conflict the WV Better Roads group could not attend, but expressed the US 50 Association should consider joining the group if they so desired.

The power point presentation being headed up by Ken Musgrave is not ready at this time.

New Business:

Frank Whitacre said the group needed to put together a map from the Virginia Line to Clarksburg showing all crash data. The map would be color coded for different types of crashes, with fatalities being represented by purple crosses. Frank went on to suggest a website be put together with an interactive map. Visitors to the site could click on the different icons to get details about the type of crash that occurred at that location with data as to cause. Frank also states that while WVDOH has the data it can not release it and that it must be obtained from each individual investigating agency. Charlie Baker stated he had already compiled that data from both Hampshire and Mineral County and would see what he could get for the other counties. Bob Fisher said that Maryland SHA had the data, but not at the level of detail Mr. Whitacre requested, and that it could be released to the public as long as the were no pending legal cases. Gary Howell asked if the information should not be targeted specifically at the people that could make changes to the road. While the information is important to all, the legislatures and those that live along the road should be the primary focus of information so they can push for changes.

Bob Hott asked about pushing for lesser improvements, and could increased enforcement of the traffic laws could help. Bob Fisher said it is the 3 “E’s” Education of the driver, Enforcement of the Laws, and Engineering of the road that makes for safe operation of the highways and that all 3 must be looked at. He went on to state that if funding was made available it would be 10 to 15 years for the first shovel of dirt was turned.

Senator Sypolt suggested that Senator Unger be invited to attend a future meeting as he is the head of the transportation subcommittee.

Thomas Conlon also attended the meeting and gave a brief history of the US 40 Association which eventually led to the building of Interstate 68 and that the group should continue to push forward.

Citizen Concerns: None

March Meeting:

Garrett County is next on the schedule to host the May 16^th meeting.

Meeting Adjourned at 1:54.