Published: July 02, 2009 04:39 pm      

Mercer County must be vigilant to ensure turnpike toll removal in 2019

Perhaps we here in southern West Virginia are stubborn. And proud. And have a deeply ingrained sense of right and wrong. None of which are necessarily bad characteristics. But if one is on the receiving end of our moral indignation and outrage, the ensuing battle is guaranteed to be bitter.

Perhaps this is why the frustration over the turnpike toll hike escalated into such a vehement issue for those in Mercer and surrounding counties. The tolls have been a thorn in the side of local people for decades. Having believed promises made years ago — the tolls would be removed when the road was paid for — the move to raise the rates simply pushed many folks from aggravation to anger.

The tolls have been a dominant issue on our front page for months, and readers have responded with countless letters to the editor. The overwhelming majority voiced objections to the toll hike.

Although most readers believed the toll hikes were a done deal, despite the public hearings and other formalities, they wanted a forum to voice their frustrations.

To no one’s surprise, the Parkways Authority voted to increase the tolls last week. But our readers may take some solace in knowing their voices were heard.

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When the call came in from the Governor’s Office last Wednesday afternoon, I was a little surprised. The vote to raise the tolls had occurred only a few hours prior to the call. When Gov. Joe Manchin came on the line, he noted he was actually traveling on the turnpike when the news came.

He didn’t say what news. He didn’t have to.

We spoke for a few minutes about a new bill that allowed 16 year olds to donate blood (he had been at an American Red Cross event earlier that day), and we discussed the importance of this legislation before moving on to the real issue at hand — the toll vote, and the frustration of those in southern West Virginia.

The fact that Gov. Manchin was aware of the stories, columns, editorials and letters was evident. .

When I asked the governor what he would tell the people of southern West Virginia in the wake of the toll increase vote, he explained, in detail, why he believed the authority’s action was the correct one.

He said the tolls had to be raised to meet the “fiduciary responsibility of the bonds,” while also emphasizing how efforts had been made to “get rid of all the outside drain” on the parkways budget. With the exception of Tamarack, toll money is now being directed to upkeep, maintenance and bonds. Manchin said hopes are to divest of Tamarack when the market improves. His goal is to bring in a developer who will build a conference center, hotel and high-quality strip shopping center around the artisan center.

The governor also praised the authority for its decision to change the way it pays off the Tamarack debt, which will free up about $1.4 million a year. This move allowed the authority to offer discounts for travelers who purchase the E-Z Pass.

“The action the authority took ... was the most responsible and compassionate one,” he said. “And I would encourage people to buy the E-Z or commuter pass ... and they still have the option to use the old road.”

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During a telephone call with the governor a few months ago, the subject of an increased use of tolls across the state and nation came up. At that time, the anti-toll letters were rolling into our newsroom, and I explained to the governor that it was probably easier to accept this notion if one didn’t live in an area that had the state’s one and only pay-to-drive highway.

Last Wednesday, the governor pointed out other potential toll roads in West Virginia’s future.

Manchin said residents and officials in Mason and Putnam counties have signed letters of support to finish Route 35 by tolling it.

The Mon/Fayette Expressway in the Cheat Lake area of Morgantown will also be tolled, he said.

The federal government is also looking at the idea of allowing states to toll some interstates. If that becomes a reality, Manchin said West Virginia is looking at Interstate 81, which runs through Martinsburg, and Interstate 70, which goes through the northern panhandle.

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During last week’s call, the governor also praised those in Mercer County who took an interest in the turnpike debate and voiced their opinions on the issue. He credited this informed public with pushing the authority to review all possible options.

“The involvement, the concern and the sincere interest” of the people in southern West Virginia “kept everybody working as hard as they could” on the toll issue, he said, noting the voices of this area were heard.

He also addressed the feelings of inequality expressed by many in the region. “Mercer County is a tremendous segueway into our state,” he said. “For people to believe they are being punished is wrong ... that’s never been the attitude or atmosphere here.”

I asked the governor if the authority was still on track to have the bonds paid off by 2019. His answer was yes.

Ten years from now, “the citizens of southern West Virginia will have the ability and have the option to decide for themselves” whether or not to turn the road over to the federal highway system, he said. If that decision had to be made today, Manchin predicted no one would take the highway due to its state of “disrepair.”

Manchin encouraged the people of southern West Virginia to continue their vigilance of the Parkways Authority and turnpike issues. “Keep watching,” he said.

I have no doubt we will.

Samantha Perry is managing editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at sperry@bdtonline.com.