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WV HAS THIRD WORST ROADS IN NATION - 200 State Projects In Jeopardy, Washington's Highway Trust Fund Political Football |
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More than 200 WV road projects that are underway could be in jeopardy if members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives do not find a way to replenish the federal Highway Trust Fund before the start of August. The funding stand-off has put the long-time highway program at risk, part of the divisive right-wing Republican house and the US Senate. A new report by TRIP, a non-profit national transportation research group, ranks West Virginia as the third worst state in the nation for rural road conditions and fatalities. The stand-off in the US Congress since President Obama was elected has produced a record low in bills passed, including many that would have been directed toward improving the nation's decaying infrastructure. WV roads and bridges, according to national studies, are among the worst in the nation, and the WV Department of Highways says it is 12-15 years behind with resurfacing state highways. Nationally, the Highway Trust shortfall for the current fiscal year is estimated at between $8 billion and $9 billion, and that amount includes millions of federal dollars for road construction and maintenance projects in the Mountain State that are already under contract. Mike Clowser, executive director of the Contractors Association of West Virginia, said if the federal funding is not there, as scheduled, next month contractors will have two options. The first of those options would lead to layoffs. "We can just shut the jobs down until this issue is resolved and, when Congress does provide additional funds to the state, then we will resume those projects," he explained. "The second option that contractors will have is to continue working on the projects, but to accept about 50 cents on the dollar of what they are owed," Clower said. The worst roads report claims 33% of WV rural roads are rated in poor condition. West Virginia also ranks number three in rural traffic fatalities with nearly three deaths for every 100 million vehicle miles of travel. Carrie Bly with D.O.T. says WV has the 6th largest roadway system in the country with 36,000 miles of roadways. Only 1,800 miles of that 36,000 make up highways and the rest is rural routes.>{? The Department of Transportation cites insufficient funds as the number one problem and the situation may get worse before it gets better if Congress does not approve Federal Highway funding in the next month. The Department of Transportation receives funding from the gas tax and vehicle registration fees, but they say its not enough to keep up with the economy, population growth, and deteriorating rural roads. |
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