Funding for Road Repairs and New State Road Laws Take Effect

Two laws that positively impact funding and safety of roads in West Virginia go into effect this week.  In addition to these new laws going into effect, state funding  for secondary road repairs becomes available July 1 and a contract for the Dept. of Highways audit is expected to be awarded later this month.

“During the 2015 Legislative session several items were addressed and ultimately passed to put us in the position to improve our road system through efficiency and additional funding,” stated Del. Marty Gearhart (R-Mercer) who serves as Chair of the House Committee on Roads and Transportation.

Effective June 10 a law to prohibit the consumption of an alcoholic beverage as well as the possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of a motor vehicle will be state law.  In addition to making roads safer, this law now makes West Virginia eligible for up to $9.4 millions in additional federal highway funding.   Additionally, H.B. 2778, which establishes a West Virginia State Transportation Infrastructure Fund Program within the Division of Highways, went into effect June 7.

These bills along with $7.5 million for secondary road repairs within the state budget for FY2016 and legislation requiring an audit of the Department of Highways were several transportation reforms that were passed during the 2015 regular session.

“The new funding available from implementation of the open container restriction combined with the modifications made to the state budget makes $16.9 million dollars in funding available to us that we didn’t have before.  We’ll also be able to leverage additional federal funding with the establishment of the state infrastructure fund,” said Gearheart.

Del. Amy Summers (R-Taylor), lead sponsor DOH audit bill, stated, “After the DOH audit is finalized and the amount of needed funds are realized, solutions must be determined. Some have been offered by the Blue Ribbon Highway Commission report but we need to talk to our constituents and see what is palatable to them. This issue cannot be kicked down the road like it has been in years past.”

Gearheart added, “We have high expectations that the audit will reveal ways to get more out of our current spending.  I would expect action on many audit recommendations along with additional funding ideas to be highlights of the 2016 session.”