Posted on 12/29/2017 9:52:48 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
WHEELING — Motorists know age and excessive use are taking a toll on Interstate 70 through Ohio County, but some state lawmakers are concerned drivers may be paying tolls after a proposed $172.5 million rehabilitation on the stretch of highway is completed.
Delegates Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, and Patrick McGeehan, R-Hancock, both said they voted against a bill — which ultimately passed — giving the West Virginia Parkways Authority the ability to charge tolls after construction of new roads and major improvements to existing highways because of their concerns about future tolling on Interstate 70.
State Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio; Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel; and Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, meanwhile, don’t see toll booths ever going up on I-70. They all voted in favor of the measure.
Road construction soon could become a common sight throughout West Virginia. State voters will go to the polls on Oct. 7 to decide a road bond issue that would authorize the sale of up to $1.6 billion in state bonds over the next four years, and repayment of the bond debt would come from funds generated by recent increases in Division of Motor Vehicles fees.
Among the largest of the projects planned is a $172.5 million endeavor to rehabilitate and replace seven bridges along Interstate 70 in Ohio County.
Language in the parkways authority measure states the following: “The Parkways Authority may not charge tolls or fees for transit over an existing road without express legislative authorization for the charging of such tolls or fees: provided, however, that an existing road does not include the West Virginia Turnpike, new lanes or new sections of an existing road, the replacement or construction of any bridge or tunnel, or related facilities.”
West Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Brent Walker said the projects in Ohio County appear only to pertain to the replacement of bridge decking, and the scope doesn’t seem to constitute construction of new bridges.
As such, Walker doesn’t believe the project would meet criteria for tolling.
Storch — who also serves as president of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce — isn’t so sure.
She consulted with DOT officials during the special legislative session last month, and concluded the project would meet criteria WVDOT needs to establish tolls on an existing highway. Among the considerations are total traffic counts on the highway, out-of-state traffic counts and cost of construction, according to Storch.
“When I first started questioning Department of Transportation officials, it became obvious I-70 in Ohio County would be considered a project for tolling,” Storch said. “I was not able to get a firm commitment to tell me their intention to do so, or that it was off the table and (they) weren’t considering it.
“This kept me from supporting the (Parkways Authority) measure. It’s not something many people around here pay unless they travel to the beach every year on the West Virginia Turnpike.”
The bridges along I-70 have deteriorated and their repair is a priority, according to Storch. She has learned the project could start within the next six months, and WVDOT is estimating it will take four years.
“I would like to have some conversation with the Department of Transportation to minimize the disruption for the community,” Storch said.
McGeehan believes the Parkways Authority bill could have far-reaching consequences.
“The bill was probably one of the worst of the governor’s proposals because it enables the potential for future corruption, and we’ve already seen much of that unfortunately in the Division of Highways,” McGeehan said. “If, for instance, tolls were levied on projects in the Northern Panhandle, none of that money that was levied and collected would have to stay in our area or be used on infrastructure in our area. It could for instance be used to fund projects in other parts of the state, such as perhaps the Greenbrier, or other areas that might have politically connected politicians with a somewhat conflicted vested interest in (them).
Ferns said he doesn’t believe the state has the authority to place tolls on a federal highway such as Interstate 70.
“The federal government under (President Barack) Obama removed the prohibition, but that was only to allow federal government to create tolls on federal highways,” he said.
Fluharty said the intention of the legislation is for possible tolls to be limited to new roads, not existing ones like I-70.
“I don’t believe replacement would count,” he said.
Clements — who also serves as executive director of the West Virginia Route 2/Interstate 68 Authority — also doesn’t believe motorists will have to pay to drive I-70 thorough Ohio County.
“They just can’t go stick up a toll booth — there has to be a major improvement,” he said. “I can’t see a toll booth on Route 2 or Interstate 70. That’s not to say it wouldn’t be beneficial to the highway fund, but a lot of conditions would have to be met.”
Get off and use 68 to 79 back to 70, and avoid using 70 in WV.
As a West Virginia resident, I have to say that this idea of tolls on I-70 through Ohio County (Wheeling) is just plain sleazy.
The route of I-70 has been a major-west thoroughfare from the east coast to the midwest for over 200 years, roughly corresponding to the old National Road. It’s over 2500 miles long and only two short segments are toll.
Only 14 miles of I-70 cut through the northern panhandle of West Virginia near Wheeling. For West Virginia to erect toll booths and collect tolls for that tiny stretch is simply using it as a choke point, and will do nothing to enhance the state’s reputation or attractiveness to business.
Incidentally, the I-68 to I-79 route you are suggesting avoids the Pennsylvania tolls (PA has its own problems with excessive tolls), but does not avoid the proposed tolls in Ohio County, WV.
Huh? I-70 goes through the northern panhandle; I-68 through the western panhandle.
Not a problem. The FREELOADERS here that don’t want to pay tolls can simply not use the bridges on I-70, since the new tolls will only be at bridges, and 99% of I-70 in WV is NOT bridges.
This proposal was floated back in July.
Since then, it has sunk like a rock. I don’t think it’s being considered now, since WV voters approved a road bond back in November.
Coming from the east, 70 to 68 to 79 to 70 is a teeny touch shorter. And then there’s 470.
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