MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There was a decent showing from residents at a recent transportation meeting to discuss additional access ways to Interstate 79.
The executive director of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) hopes for an even greater turnout at an October 26th public meeting reviewing long term plans in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
“MPO staff will be there to work with attendees either in small groups or personally one-on-one to discuss these items and where we’re going with our transportation plan and receive their feedback,” said Bill Austin.
Long term plans will potentially include one of three alternatives for another route from Morgantown to the interstate. According to Austin none of them would impact the WVU Core Arboretum which had been a concern for many residents.
“One of them is an alternative that basically is an extension of Van Voorhis Road and it goes around to a river crossing to the north. It includes a connection to Collins Ferry Road and connects to a potential new interchange somewhere on I-79 in the general vicinity of Pursglove.”
Austin described a second alternative that met a number of needs identified through the MPO.
“It’s essentially an outer boulevard that would be an extension from Point Marion Road, across the county, through a new bridge and a connection to the existing interchange at Chaplin Hill Road.”
Details of a third plan include portions of the other two alternatives.
“It includes the extension of Van Voorhis and the connection to Collins Ferry and the connection to a new interchange. But, it also includes a connection from Point Marion Road over to connect to the new road that would come up from Collins Ferry,” Austin said.
The Wednesday, October 26, public meeting from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Marilla Park Recreation Center will include discussion that could help determine what projects could carry over from the previous Metropolitan Transportation Plan and what could be added.
“The meeting will be a review of our old plan and where we are with it. We’ve made a lot of progress on the projects that are in it. If everybody is comfortable with where we are in our goals and objectives we would do a reset which would also include the I-79 access study,” Austin noted.
The MPO’s transportation plan includes transit, pedestrian, biking, and driving needs.
Austin called each element a priority to be addressed.
“A surprising fact people may not know about is between 16 and 20 percent of our daily work trips are made using something than an automobile.”
Following additional discussion and public meetings, the MPO policy board could adopt an updated long term transportation plan in March.