Published: February 06, 2007 07:58 pm      

Manchin maps solutions for state’s transportation woes

CHARLESTON — Transportation financial woes were among topics discussed by Gov. Joe Manchin and the two leading state road officials during the Mercer County Day at the Legislature Tuesday afternoon.

Manchin and Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox and Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority General Manager Greg Barr all told approximately 40 Mercer County community and business leaders that the turnpike and state highways have not received enough money during the past few years for maintenance and upkeep.

Manchin said that his administrative staff has been working to see how Division of Highways funding can be changed for the betterment of state roads and highways. He said one proposal is to move three working departments into other state divisions to free up some state highway money. He said that one suggestion is to move the staff that does the Weights and Balances work for the Public Service Commission to the PSC. Also, consideration is being given to moving Highway Authorities to Economic Development.

He said there have been some suggestions that the courtesy patrol be eliminated but he feels it is too important to both West Virginia motorists and tourists traveling through the state, to end the service. He said it should go under the tourism department.

“We want to make sure we put any group that we move from the DOH in the right category. Right now all that funding is coming from the DOH and we need that money,” Manchin said.

He also mentioned Tamarack and the work that needs to be done to make it more effective and financially sufficient. Tamarack currently falls under the Parkways, Economic Development Authority.

Mattox replied to a question about an increase in taxes on gasoline saying, “It is not an increase, it is a continuation of an amount that has been on the books since 1993.” He said the tax, which was added by the state Legislature in 1993, is scheduled to end on August 1, 2007 if not renewed.

The highway official said the state has not had enough income for the DOH to do the work that is needed and currently they are playing ‘catch-up’ with the gas tax money.

He said that in Mercer County considerable funding has been spent in recent years and Mercer, like other counties in the state, would not have the work done that’s needed without the continuation of the five cent gas tax. He said without that money the DOH would lose $55 million per year.