Turnpike revenue drop may lead to default
Declining revenue is threatening to put the West Virginia Turnpike in default on its bonds.
The state Parkways Authority on Thursday approved traffic and engineering studies in anticipation of raising tolls on the 88-mile highway by summer's end.
Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin of Mingo County and Senate Republican leader Don Caruth of Mercer County hope to avoid increases by diverting federal stimulus money to the Turnpike.
But their efforts may be futile. State Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox says toll roads don't qualify.
Parkways Authority manager Greg Barr said toll revenues were down nearly $730,000 in January and February from the same period in 2008. The current tolls were set in 1981.
The authority's annual bond payment is $11 million.
W.Va. receives $18.7M in mass transit funds
West Virginia's $18.7 million share of public transportation funds from the federal economic stimulus package has been released to the state.
Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall said Thursday that $10 million is earmarked for rural transit projects. Another $8.3 million is designated for urban projects.
The stimulus package included $8.4 billion for repairing and building mass transit. The Obama administration says the money will create jobs, strengthen public transportation, increase safety and conserve energy.
W.Va. gets $13M from stimulus to fight crime
West Virginia is getting more than $13 million in federal stimulus funds for law enforcement.
The funding comes from the Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program. President Obama announced the funding Friday.
Law enforcement efforts supported by the program include hiring officers, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, and multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces.
Obama says the stimulus package includes more than $4 billion for law enforcement.
Crews tackle 400 tons of trash on mountain
PINEVILLE - Nearly 400 tons of trash legally dumped on Herndon Mountain in Southern West Virginia are being hauled away to help restore the mountain's natural beauty.
Turnpike revenue drop may lead to defaultDeclining revenue is threatening to put the West Virginia Turnpike in default on its bonds.
The state Parkways Authority on Thursday approved traffic and engineering studies in anticipation of raising tolls on the 88-mile highway by summer's end.
Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin of Mingo County and Senate Republican leader Don Caruth of Mercer County hope to avoid increases by diverting federal stimulus money to the Turnpike.
But their efforts may be futile. State Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox says toll roads don't qualify.
Parkways Authority manager Greg Barr said toll revenues were down nearly $730,000 in January and February from the same period in 2008. The current tolls were set in 1981.
The authority's annual bond payment is $11 million.
W.Va. receives $18.7M in mass transit funds
West Virginia's $18.7 million share of public transportation funds from the federal economic stimulus package has been released to the state.
Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall said Thursday that $10 million is earmarked for rural transit projects. Another $8.3 million is designated for urban projects.
The stimulus package included $8.4 billion for repairing and building mass transit. The Obama administration says the money will create jobs, strengthen public transportation, increase safety and conserve energy.
W.Va. gets $13M from stimulus to fight crime
West Virginia is getting more than $13 million in federal stimulus funds for law enforcement.
The funding comes from the Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program. President Obama announced the funding Friday.
Law enforcement efforts supported by the program include hiring officers, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, and multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces.
Obama says the stimulus package includes more than $4 billion for law enforcement.
Crews tackle 400 tons of trash on mountain
PINEVILLE - Nearly 400 tons of trash legally dumped on Herndon Mountain in Southern West Virginia are being hauled away to help restore the mountain's natural beauty.
The mountainside was used as a public dump between 1960 and 1984.
Danny Haught, director of the state Department of Environmental Protection's cleanup program, said 70 tons of debris were removed in the past two weeks. He estimated it would take about two months to remove the rest at a cost of about $80,000.
Wyoming County Commissioner Jason Mullins said removing the eyesore should please residents and tourists, many of whom come to the area to enjoy the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
Sogefi to close W.Va. stabilizer bar plant
PRICHARD - Italian auto parts maker Allevard Sogefi is closing its stabilizer bar plant in Prichard at the end of June.
Plant Manager Troy Thomas says 37 of the facility's 74 workers will transfer to a new engine filters plant that's scheduled to open in Prichard in the spring. The other workers will be laid off.
The stabilizer bar plant opened in 2004.
Thomas attributed the plant's shutdown to the slumping automotive industry. He said demand for filters should be greater because they must be replaced, while stabilizer bars are designed to last the life of a vehicle.
DOH official tapped for deputy chief of staff
A longtime Division of Highways official is moving to the Governor's Office to serve as deputy of chief staff.
Gov. Joe Manchin announced the appointment of Harry Bergstrom on Friday. Bergstrom will begin his new job March 16.
Bergstrom is assistant director of the DOH's Right of Way Division. He has worked in state government for 31 years.
Bergstrom succeeds Joe Martin, who left shortly after Manchin began his second term in January.
HUD awards funds to 3 public housing agencies
Three West Virginia public housing agencies will share $116,703 in federal funding to help residents find jobs.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Friday it awarded the funding to the Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority, Parkersburg Housing Authority and Wheeling Housing Authority.
Nationwide, the agency said it awarded nearly $12 million to 207 public housing agencies.
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The tolls are helping to keep businesses from locating here. The freight companies that use that road simply tacks the charges on to you, the customer. You don't think they eat the costs, out of kindness of their hearts, do you? So much for the out of staters eating cake. By the way, what is this mentality of out of staters being the enemy anyway? Maybe that has something to do with why we are last as a state in virtually everything.
Put turnpike under DOH, Sell or or operate the tamarack at cost and stop giving money to everyone, including Hatfield and McCoy.
If the toll road is such a good idea, why not expand north to Huntington/Kentucky border with a toll booth every 10 to 15 miles? Well, is it a good idea, or isn't it?
But did you know approx. 80% of the tolls are paid by out-of-state and commercial truck traffic?
If the tolls are removed, the state taxpayers have to pick up the whole tab, not just 20%.
I think they should just let state taxpayers take a tax credit for it dollar for dollar.
That would remove the burden from state residents who use the pike regularly.
But most of the traffic is just passing through.
If you go to the northeast you will learn what it is like to pay tolls.
NY, NJ, Pa turnpike, Mass Pike, etc. charge tolls and it's a lot more than $1.25.