Published: July 02, 2009 08:40 pm      

Toll hike opposition not resting

PRINCETON — From a planned blockage of the Ghent toll booth to a call for new management on the Parkways Authority board, area lawmakers vowed to continue their fight Thursday against rising turnpike tolls.

Delegate Clif Moore, D-McDowell, said he intends to proceed with a planned protest at the Ghent toll plaza on Aug. 1, the day the new toll hikes take effect. And Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer, called for new management on the Parkways Authority board.

Moore, who previously indicated he would use his car to block the Ghent toll booth, said he isn’t encouraging others to do so.

“My plans have not changed,” Moore said. “But I’m not encouraging anybody to do that. If somebody wants to come that is fine. But again that is not a result of me trying to enlarge the crowd.”

Moore said the Parkways Authority board members ignored the united voice of southern West Virginia.

“I think it is shameful, and I think it is unforgivable, and most certainly unforgettable,” Moore said. “I think it is going to have an inverse reaction. Even though they have increased the tolls, the ridership is going to be so down that they aren’t going to realize the ridership they hoped to obtain.”

Moore said motorists are talking about going to Christiansburg, Roanoke and other areas to avoid the turnpike.

Caruth also vowed to continue his fight Thursday.

“I feel compelled to not let these issues die,” Caruth said Thursday. “I have expressed great disappointment in the management of the Parkways Authority, and I think in general, this doesn’t go directly to the board members, all of which I learned yesterday had only been on there for four years or less. I think we need new management. So I will continue on that aspect until we can improve the management, and get new management that is not unsympathetic to the situation and the payment by southern West Virginians to that toll.”

Caruth said residents of Mercer County and southern West Virginia are rightfully angered over the actions of the Parkways Authority. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to hike tolls from $1.25 per barrier to $2 for passenger cars, and from $4.25 to $6.75 for commercial vehicles, unless motorists utilize one of two discount programs.

“There isn’t any question in my mind that when the discussions get down to the essential issue, people in this area are very angry,” Caruth said. “The question remains why should we the citizens who are completely innocent of any overspending, or whatever circumstances came to cause the Parkways Authority to seek additional funding, why should we be paying for that. Particularly, when there has been federal dollars for many years that could have been used for this.”

Caruth said Gov. Joe Manchin made a commitment on Wednesday to removing the turnpike tolls by 2019.

“But you have to remember there will be a different governor then, and in a large part a different Legislature then,” Caruth said. “We have to keep up the discussion and the clamor, and keep the Parkways in our sites to achieve that objective.”

Caruth said he will continue to fight and demand for the Parkways Authority to use federal funding designated for the upkeep and maintenance of the turnpike for that specific purpose — and not other projects.

In the meantime, Caruth said area residents — and businesses in particular — will suffer when the tolls are raised on Aug. 1

“We are trying to compete in this area with the Commonwealth of Virginia, and have never had a level playing field although we are getting a lot closer here,” Caruth said. “But we are having a hard time competing with other parts of West Virginia. The fact is we can’t really compete on a level playing field with West Virginia.”

Caruth said business leaders in Mercer County must compete with other businesses in West Virginia that aren’t burdened with a toll road.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com