MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — State representatives from North Central West Virginia say finding common ground in Charleston is possible when it comes to roads.
One week after County Commissioners and representatives from the six counties that represent Division of Highways District 4 met to discuss the various road issues throughout the region, common ground is emerging. Legislatures representing what is being called the ‘North Central WV Road Caucus’ are hoping that additional funding can come to the region to repair secondary and tertiary roads through a number of means.
“Right now with the current funding state, District Four is number one in DOH road miles and vehicles in the state,” Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, 51, said. “But we’re number two in funding. So it’s obvious that the funding isn’t fair, we need a more equitable way to fund everything.”
Delegate Joe Statler was the first to move a bill forward that would address the DOH formula, which was co-sponsored by Williams. But that’s only one step, and Williams said it doesn’t address some of the more pressing matters.
“We got people who the mail is no longer delivering their mail anymore,” he said.
Other road complaints ranged from complete road closures to simple refusals to travel due to the potential wear and tear on a vehicle. Even though the stories very, these stories shared with local legislators seem to repeat themselves throughout the region.
“We might disagree on basic things but, especially with an issue like roads, where Joe Statler and I are getting calls every single day as are other delegates in the 51st, if we can’t come to a consensus on how to address these issues that would be a poor state of things and that’s what we’ve been able to do on some issues,” Williams said.
Road relief of some kind is expected to come to North Central West Virginia with the $1.6 billion road bond that was passed in October 2017.
“I think we really need to get Mon County singing from the same hymnal,” Williams said. “And if the only message we sing is this is: ‘Fix the dang roads.'”