MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission appears to have a positive reaction to the new person appointed as the State Secretary of Transportation.
Newly sworn-in Governor Patrick Morrisey submitted a letter received by the commission where he announced the appointment of Department of Highways Chief Engineer Stephen “Todd” Rumbaugh as the new State Transportation Secretary. The letter was read aloud by the commission during their regular meeting Wednesday, where separate commendations were made in favor of the longtime DOH engineer who will take over the position previously held by Jimmy Wriston.
“It’s exciting to hear about our new DOT secretary,” said Commissioner Sean Sikora. “We’re hoping to really hit the ground running with a lot of projects we have going on with him, with the Department of Transportation, and moving a lot of those things forward,” he said.
Rumbaugh has worked with the West Virginia Department of Highways for over twenty-five years and has served in several different capacities, working as a construction engineer. During his tenure as DOH Chief Engineer, he oversaw the WVDOH Contract Administration Division and Materials Control as well as the Soils and Testing Division, where he supervised a combined 130 employees. With his experience in the bid contracting aspects of road projects, his work as an engineer with the DOH, and the coinciding appointment of Earl Gaskins as DOH District 4 Director, the commission has confidence in who is in charge of roads in Charleston.
“I like to say that I’m looking forward with working with Governor Morrisey and his new appointee Todd Rumbaugh, along with our new Region 4 Director Mr. Gaskins,” said Commissioner Tom Bloom. “I’m excited for the revitalization of communications and working relationships to accomplish our mutual goals,” he said.
The positive sentiment by the commission of the appointment of Rumbaugh by Governor Morrisey stemmed from the working relationship the new transportation secretary has with the county. This includes his involvement in several large-scale projects that are currently moving forward in the county, such as the new Morgantown Industrial Park access bridge, the Exit 155 interchange upgrades, and the new Harmony Grove interchange. For the commission, his work on over half a billion dollars worth of projects added to his ability to maintain constant communication, making Rumbaugh a perfect person for the position.
“Rumbaugh is a long-time DOH employee who has been serving as Deputy Commissioner of Highways for Construction, I have had the privilege of working with him in the past and seems amenable to working with local communities,” said Sikora.
The hope for the commission is that the new leadership in the West Virginia Department of Highways will allow for seven projects to move forward. Along with the new Morgantown Industrial Park access bridge, the Exit 155 interchange upgrades, and the new Harmony Grove interchange, the commission hopes to see more progress made to upgrades at Green Bag Road, the University Avenue/Collins Ferry roundabout, the temporary lights on Chaplin Hill at Exit 155, and planned modifications to Willey Street. As new leadership begins to get established on a state level, the commission is ready to work with the DOH to help move county development forward.
“(The commission wants) Communications and working relationships to accomplish our mutual goals, and I believe that next year will be called ‘The Year of Road Improvements in Monongalia County,'” he said.