CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that passed the House of Delegates Transportation Committee Monday afternoon would close an apparent loophole in existing state law when it comes to placing the West Virginia Turnpike under the control of the state Division of Highways when the current road bonds are paid off in 2019.
The bill (HB 2027) mandates the transfer of the 88-mile toll road on June 30, 2019. Current code says the highway can only be turned over if its condition is “to the satisfaction of the commissioner of the state Division of Highways.” The bill modifies the language and sets up a process mandating the transfer.
West Virginia Parkways Authority bond counsel Brian Helmick told committee members the language in the current code does leave some questions.
“I believe the bill before you would clarify that position,” Helmick said.
The bill says if the Turnpike isn’t in good condition tolls would be collected for an additional year to make the necessary repairs. Current bond covenants however require the road to be in interstate condition now. Bill supporters said they don’t think the condition of the highway will be a question when it’s time to transfer it to the DOH.
Gov. Jim Justice’s highway construction plan would keep the tolls on the Turnpike and increase them by $1 to help finance a larger road bond issue.
The West Virginia Parkways Authority has 360 workers who are considered “will and pleasure” employees. Parkways General Manager Greg Barr told MetroNews in December he hoped the decision about the future of the highway would come sooner than later.
“We have a lot of employees and it’s tough not knowing what your future is and they are raising families and have kids ready to go to college and it would be nice if they knew they were going to have a job after 2019,” Barr said at the time.
Helmick told committee members Monday it would cost about $20 million to remove the Turnpike’s three large toll plazas along with other work required to convert the toll road into a regular interstate highway.
The bill now moves to the House Finance Committee for consideration.