Preston County Minutes May, 2008

Minutes

May 21^st, 2008

Recorded Attendees: Gary Howell – Mineral County, Wayne Spiggle-Mineral County Commission, David Moe - Garrett County, Arvin Harsh – Preston County, , Cate Johnson – Congressman Mollohan’s Office, Chris Strovel – Congresswoman Capito’s Office, Walt Davis – Hampshire County, Grady Bradfield – Hampshire County, Craig Jennings – Preston County, Dave Price – Preston County, Vicky Cole – Preston County, Allen Murlin – Mineral County,

Introductions: Preston County Commission Dave Price opened the meeting. Mineral County Commissioner Wayne Spiggle made the introductions welcoming everyone to the meeting.

Correspondence: None

Old Business: Dave Moe pointed out two corrections needed for the March Minutes. Corridor N (US 219) was incorrectly labeled as Corridor 0 and Federal Toll Credits was incorrectly listed as Federal Toll Funds. The corrections have been noted.

Cate Johnson of Congressman Mollohan’s (D) office indicated that no progress had been made on co-sponsors on H.R. 4827. H.R. 4827 is the bill that makes a 4-lane highway between I-68 at Cumberland, MD and Corridor H part of the Appalachian Development Highway System. The corridor would be known as a Corridor O extension and generally follow the path of the current US 220. Chris Strovel of Congresswoman Capito’s (R) office announced at the meeting that the Congresswoman would be co-sponsoring H.R. 4827, and that information would be forwarded to Congressman Mollohan’s office shortly. With the addition of Congresswoman Capito’s name on the bill, H.R. 4827 will now have bipartisan support making it easier to move forward. The Corridor O extension will build a section of US 50 as 4-lane in Mineral County if completed.

The issue of a traffic light near the WVDMV office on US 50 east of Romney was tabled until a later meeting.

New Business: It was announced that US 50 remains closed after several months near the Taylor-Harrison County line. The road was closed when the mountain slid in. Traffic is being re-routed via WV 279 to I-79. No date for the road reopening is available.

Arvin Harsh asked the group to address the state on the safety issue of the US 50/WV 24 intersection in Aurora. The Aurora Fire Department and Lions Club had previously asked the US 50 Association to ask for help from the state. The Preston County commission asked Arvin Harsh to attend the next public commission meeting for the commission to draft a formal request to the WVDOH for a realignment of the intersection. It was also decided that the US 50 Association would also draft a similar letter.

Mr. Harsh also asked if something could be done about the trees hanging over the road east of Aurora. Some of these trees have fallen onto the highway in bad weather causing traffic hazards. It was debated whether or not it was the responsibility of the land owner next to the highway to trim the trees or the WVDOH. Both the Preston County Commission and the US 50 Association will ask the WVDOH to trim the trees for safety.

West Virginians for Better Transportation released their Candidate Survey results. They can be found at: http://www.keepwvmoving.org/shared/content/WVBT%20Survey%20for%20website.xls

Wayne Spiggle asked the Association if the group would like to give $1000 to WVBT to promote the need for better roads in WV. Dave Price stated that the purpose of the US 50 Association was to promote a better highway and that was the goal of the WVBT. He saw no problem giving the money to promote awareness of West Virginia’s highway problems.

Gary Howell suggested the group put its own brochure together. The brochure could be given to businesses along US 50 to promote the goals of a safer more economically viable US 50 from Winchester to Clarksburg. Grady Bradfield thought this was an excellent idea. The group decided to move forward on creating a brochure. Wayne Spiggle offered to assist Mr. Howell in creating the document.

Gary Howell spoke with Taylor County Commissioner Rusty Efaw about the up coming July meeting. Commissioner Efaw looking forward to the meeting, the Taylor County Library volunteered to host the meeting possibly in conjunction with the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce. The group was encouraged with increasing participation of the Taylor County.

It was also suggested that a special invitation to the September meeting be extended to the Frederick County, VA board of Supervisors and VDOT officials. VDOT has been working with the US 50 Association on getting out press releases on highway construction delays on their portion of US 50.

The group also decided to request that Governor Manchin send a representative to future meetings to better coordinate efforts with the state.

Regional Issues: Dave Moe spoke on the Toll Credit issue that was unique to Pennsylvania. The ability for Pennsylvania to use Toll Road Credits for completion of Corridor N, between I-70 and I-68 was in inadvertently removed. This is preventing Pennsylvania from coming up with its $9 million to complete the next section and receive $45 million in Federal matching funds. H.R. 1195 was introduced and passed out of the US House, but the correction measure was left off. Wayne Spiggle asked Dave Moe to follow up with Nora Martin in Senator Byrd’s office. Corridor N and the Corridor O extension will act as a connection between Corridor H and the PA Turnpike providing increased economic opportunity to MD, PA, VA and WV.

Additional Information: US 50 Paving Projects 2008

Grant County - US 50 - MP 7.45 - 8.83 - 1.38 miles - Mt. Storm - Skyline ($325,000)

Grant County - US 50 - MP 8.83 - 9.64 - 0.81 miles - Mt. Storm - Skyline ($192,000)

Mineral County - US 50 - MP 0.00 - 3.44 - 3.44 miles - Abrams Creek - Skyline Road ($923,000)

Preston County - US 50 - MP 8.84 - 10.88 - 2.04 miles - Macomber Road West ($477,000)

July Meeting:

Taylor County is next on the schedule to host the July 16th meeting at a place to be determined.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:05

Tentative Meeting Schedule

16 July 2008 - Taylor County
17 September 2008 - Hampshire County
19 November 2008 - Mineral County

Taylor County Meeting

Rt. 50 Group meeting

Held at Taylor County Senior Center

March 16^th, 2005 @ 1:00 pm

Sign – in Sheet

1) Diane Parker Taylor Cty Planning Commission

2) Dick Feigley Garrett Co. (Solid Waste)

3) David W. Gobel Taylor Cty Commission

4) Chad Swick Taylor Cty Dev. Authority

5) Ron Swick Taylor Cty Planning Commission

6) Dave Beard Garrett Co. Commissioner

7) Peggy Jamison Garrett County

8) Robert (Buck) True Barbour Cty Rd. Comm

9) Spencer Wooddell Taylor Cty Planning Commission

10) R. Darion Wolfe Preston Cty Comm

11) Robert L. Knotts Taylor Cty Planning Comm

12) Rob Watson WVDOH/Planning

13) William Wood WVDOH/Planning & Res Div

14) Brian Carr WVDOH/Planning & Res Div

15) Joe Mattalion BCEDA-Philippi

16) Don Smith Barbour

17) Rise Straight Mountain Statesman

18) Evelyn Baker Hampshire Cty Planning

19) Charles Baker Mineral County Planning

20) Larry Weaver Preston DOH

21) James M. Smith Taylor County

22) Tony J. Veltri Taylor County Commission

23) Ken Musgrave Mineral County

24) Gary Howell Mineral

25) Arvin Marsh Preston

Suggested Agenda:

Introductions

County by County update, including accident report for the last two months

Update on planning process … Bill Woods, Brian Carr and Associates

Report of Funding Committee … Deb Clatterbuck, Gary Howell, Eleanor Baker, Darwin Wolfe, Ken Musgrave

Review of WVU study on funding issues … Wayne and others

Comments on regional transportation issues … Buck True and others

Potential Web Page… Ken Musgrave, Gary Howell

Next steps and next venue (We haven’t met in Grant County yet.)

Agenda sent by prior email

Introductions – see signup attendance

Brief recap of mission of Rt 50 Assoc. and Strategic Plan

High degree of interest continues after 1 ½ yrs meeting – floating locations in Counties covered by group.

Counties – regions working together for common goals – also important to current Gov. and admin as was last.

All levels of government are acknowledging the efforts of group and “one voice”

County –by-county update

Hampshire; Mineral; Garrett; Preston; Taylor

Absent: Grant

[Funding sources will be discussed in greater detail]

Dave ask where TC projects stand w/state – B. Carr said that 1 (Pruntytown) is held because of historical – but we say has been resolved – always excuses given –

We’ve had 169 accidents in just a 1 ½-1 ¾ mile section of Rt.50 from hosp to 4-corners over the last 4 yrs.

State update of planning process

Brian – 33 sections broken out for accident comparisons –

15 below statewide average

7 just at

10 above or significantly higher than statewide average

“Wish” list – needs further analysis – Taylor County ahead of game because much research and background info done

79 projects on list – including Taylor County.

There was a TC study from Harrison to Grafton but not from Grafton to Preston (East) – needs reviewed and any projects added to list ASAP in order to be considered per Carr – running out of time

Larry Weaver – some on list are small – some he has been able to address directly –reminds us we should also be working w/local depts. For i.e.: guardrails, speed limits, (small project)

Might not be immediate but will be done [ditches, slides] – few thousand dollar price range.

“State” list ranges form $100,000 – to millions.

Prioritize list by state reps – requested last meeting. Hampshire reports they have completed and given to Carr.

List of projects “programmed” but awaiting funding – Carr said may have been handed out last meeting – Doesn’t have today – we requested it!

32 mil – Hampshire

10 mil – Taylor

Dave told about our meeting on 23^rd and need last estimates ASAP

We ask that he redistribute this list “quickly” after this meeting for our reference – He said he has it in his box somewhere and will do his best.

Talked about project that was delayed in Romney and has been in system for 12yrs.

May be other issues – outdated permits or docs – but they will check and try to resurrect.

There is some discrepancy about info from Maddix about missing permits, as Evelyn Baker reports those permits are in the Planning Commission file in Hampshire.

Gary Howell is working w/subgroup for Federal funding but must have list.

In State: 1.5 Billion of Unfunded projects on Books right now.

Things are tight and DOH has been telling folks for years.

WVU conducted studies in order to be independent. He works w/road fund a lot. Federal aid gets about 1 bil/yr – but before any projects can be funded:

Debt Service for Road Bonds – 50mil/yr – 2012

Admin Cost – ie: equip – not salaries 45 mil

Routine Maint – roads/bridges – 320 mil/yr

576 mil per year in State Revenue

450 mil spoken for

115 mil left to use for Fed matching funds or 400/mil per year

Only leaves about 20 mil per year for any/all projects throughout state!

State revenues continue to decrease because of fuel costs going up.

FEAR – if new highway bill goes through and we get 15-20% increase in match – if they (state) get it – they might not qualify because revenues down.

DOH employees cut – 10,000 down to less than 5,000

No way to continue to cut their own budgets.

Now’s the time to get in on ground floor and put name in hat but not a real expectation to be able to add our projects

DMV is not part of DOH – separate agency and DMV gets funds 1^st before DOH

State Police 6 or 7 mil

Now increasing request to 9 mil in order to continue to patrol –

All of these come out of same “pie”. Used to be paid from General Fund but now shifted to highways.

Even Robert Byrd (a genius for getting WV funding) is no longer effectively getting federal highway funds.

70 mil – Appalachian Corridor

40 mil – Interstat

40 mil – NHS – National Highway System (1873 miles in state now)

?) from Spencer – should we seek “National Historic Highway Status”

A) A lot of our requests are Safety related – 5 mil per year

For this group is it better to be NHS? It does have to be voted on - but tabled by group currently –

It was the consensus of the group that “Historic” status hurts us per Howell - - Fed funding is preferred

?) What do we need to do to enable them to get projects

A) We are on right track – get money line – itemed for our projects.

“Magic Money” best from Fed. Budget – doesn’t require state funds (matching) but very hard to get.

Get on Fed. List – keep it simple or we won’t progress

This is band aid – need long term fix – to have revenue increase per WVU Study and recommendations

Private funding only happens through tolls – no one likes and traffic not great enough to sustain consideration

They can take/seek donations from Private Enterprise who needs access – public/private partnering is possible in this respect.

Any of us can download WVU study @ www.bber.wvu.edu

Regional issues – Buck True talked about “creative packaging” of road projects.

Frank Moretti article quoted – is great safety concerns and does cause greatest risk

Rural Roads – High unacceptable risks

Buck has a limited stretch of 50 he is presenting – it is a big project but not all of our wish list – mostly Barbour County.

Byrd relies on DOH to give him priorities but will keep True informed of funding as it is sent.

If we (in solidarity) go down and lobby House/Senate we will get farther as an Association

Web page – Ken Musgrave and Gary Howell – update:

They will create and publish a web site for the association to serve as an informational site. Also will upload historical post card images of Rt. 50 to show nothing has changed.

Summary – Wayne

Next steps

- complete wish list and studies – almost done

- Funding revenues

- One voice in Charleston/Fed.

- Web Page

Will meet in Grant next – location/date/time TBA in email.

Other business/comments

Chad Swick - Thanks to TC Comm for food and McDonald’s drinks

Mr. Harsh – 1^st meeting he attended but suggested Merger/Passing lanes’ talked about 219 and relocation of corridor H and its potential effects on economic development and Rt 50 connectors will/may become important; guard rails should be buried – several other comments about Aurora (overhand of trees –widowmaker)and econ dev.

He appreciates leadership of the association.

Wayne advised him to seek approval through his County Commission

Dave Gobel – consider the following as very possibly going to happen in future –scenario:

I79 shut down and all traffic routed on 50-119 if accident(s). All Northern state traffic stops! A sobering note to end upon.

Meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.