Published: July 02, 2009 04:38 pm      

Millions for Mercer?

Federal funding vital for projects

While key projects across the region were largely overlooked during the recent award of federal stimulus transportation dollars, officials in Washington are taking early steps to secure millions for Mercer and McDowell counties in the new 2010 Surface Transportation Authorization Bill.

U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., has made several funding requests on behalf of southern West Virginia in the new transportation bill currently being considered by Congress. Specifically, Rahall is seeking $60 million in the new highway bill to allow for a continuation of construction of the King Coal Highway from the existing $16.2 million bridge in Bluefield and the existing terminus at Stoney Creek to Route 123 and the Mercer County Airport. That could create a usable segment of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County.

Rahall is also asking Congress for $44 million to build an interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway in Welch near the Indian Ridge Industrial Park and the new federal prison.

He is also seeking an additional $4 million for a continuation of construction on the Shawnee Parkway extending from Ghent in Raleigh to Mercer County and, ultimately, Ashland in McDowell County.

In another encouraging announcement for Bluefield, Rahall is requesting $13.5 million in the transportation bill for the planning, analysis, environmental review, design, engineering, property acquisition and construction of the proposed Colonial Intermodal Center in Bluefield.

All of the funding requests were posted on Rahall’s website last week. While it is important to remember these are simply funding requests — with no guarantee of full funding by Congress — they are nevertheless an important first step toward securing additional dollars for our long-delayed four-lane corridors in southern West Virginia.

The $13.5 million requested for the proposed Colonial Intermodal Center in Bluefield is of particular importance. City officials have been working with Rahall for several months now on a project they hope will be similar to the Beckley Intermodal Gateway project in neighboring Raleigh County. The Colonial Intermodal Center is envisioned as a similar transportation project — although on a smaller scale than the BIG Project in Beckley, Bluefield Mayor Linda Whalen said. City officials are hoping shops, restaurants and other related businesses can be developed adjacent to the proposed Colonial Intermodal Center.

It also critical that Congress allocate the entire $60 million requested by Rahall to create a usable segment of the King Coal Highway in Bluefield. The four-lane corridor currently comes to an abrupt end at a large mountain near Bluefield.

Gov. Joe Manchin spoke out in support of the King Coal Highway last week. Manchin told the Daily Telegraph that he has “committed to Congressman Rahall” the state’s willingness to support and prioritize projects slated for federal highway dollars. Manchin said it is important to finish at least part of the King Coal Highway — such as a segment that runs from Bluefield to Wyoming County.

“But we can’t do any of this without federal dollars,” Manchin said.

The governor is correct. Without additional federal funding, the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway won’t be completed anytime soon.

We welcome Rahall’s funding request for the King Coal Highway, the Coalfields Expressway, the Shawnee Parkway and the Colonial Intermodal Center. We now call upon Congress, and U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., to help secure the federal funds requested by Rahall in the 2010 transportation bill.

The region can’t afford to be overlooked again. We need help in the 2010 transportation bill.