Lawmakers continue with attempts to address downtown Morgantown truck traffic

wajr_plugMORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It has been 10 months since a Kanawha County Circuit Court judge overturned Morgantown’s truck ban.
According to Delegate Brian Kurcaba, there is still a need to determine alternate routes to appease both downtown business owners who are requesting less truck traffic and truckers who are looking for an efficient way around or through town.

After a Monday meeting including city council members and Congressman David McKinley (WV-1), Kurcaba said the next option to seriously consider could literally take an act of congress.
“We’re talking about federal highways that are governed by highway laws out of Washington. So, it’s not state roads. We can’t necessarily do anything about it from the state stand point,” explained Kurcaba.

The lawmaker, headed into his sophomore year in the state legislature, said through research he’s learned Pennsylvania, Idaho and Maryland are states where trucks that exceed weight regulations on interstates have been extended permission to travel some of the federally regulated highways without repercussion.

Kurcaba said in north central West Virginia, trucks hauling regionally could benefit from a similar waiver on Interstate 68 from Morgantown to the Maryland state line and on Interstate 79 from Pennsylvania to Harrison County.

In Washington where a highway and infrastructure bill is under review, Kurcaba said there is a chance West Virginia representatives can work a Monongalia County request into consideration.

“We’re hopeful we can get something amended into that bill that would give an exemption on the interstates in our district, DOH district 4.”
A three-month highway bill, agreed upon by the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, is set to expire on October 29.
Lawmakers have not been able to agree on a long term spending bill. The Senate had passed a six-year highway funding plan in the summer that did not make it through the House.