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March 30, 1998
The Coalfields Expressway Authority met at 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 26, 1998, for its regular monthly meeting
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PINEVILLE--The Coalfields Expressway Authority met at 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 26, 1998, for its regular monthly meeting.
Chairman D. Michael Goode opened the meeting. The minutes of the February 26, 1998, meeting of the Coalfields Expressway Authority were approved as submitted. Chairman Goode then turned the meeting over to Richard Browning, Executive Director of the Coalfields Expressway Authority.
Mr. Browning reported to the members that he had submitted the FY99 funding request for the next year's operation of the Coalfields Expressway Authority to the legislature. He stated that he had written letters to legislators in all three counties served by the Coalfields Expressway and to the Chairman of the Committee on Finance of each house requesting funding.
Mr. Browning reported on House Concurrent Resolution 62 which provided for the issuance of $220 million in road bonds pursuant to the Safe Roads Amendment of 1996. Browning stated that he had lobbied the legislature this session to include the state funding necessary for the proposed Welch interchange in the bond proceeds. Browning stated that several lists of proposed uses for the bond money were circulated at the legislature this past session; however, HCR 62, as passed by the legislature, did not specifically name any projects for construction, Browning said.
Browning also reported on HCR 15, proposed by Delegate Flanigan of Mercer County. HCR 15 urged WV's congressional delegation to include in the new federal highway legislation funding for the I-73, Coalfields Expressway and Shawnee Parkway highway projects in southern West Virginia.
Mr. Browning and Mr. Colby then reported on their attendance at the Public Participation Meetings in Grundy, VA, on the Virginia section of the Coalfields Expressway. Mr. Colby told the board that many people attended the meeting to learn about the Coalfields Expressway.
Mr. Browning and Mr. Colby reported on the format of the Informal Public Participation Meetings to be held the week of April 6 - 9 in southern West Virginia. Mr. Browning stated that he had sent out press releases stating that the meetings will be in conducted in a workshop format from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 6, at Independence High School in Coal City; on Wednesday, April 8, at Mount View High School at Maitland; and Thursday, April 9, at Pineville High School in Pineville. Browning stated that the meetings will be very informal and will allow citizens to ask questions and state their opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of the three alternatives currently under consideration to improve transportation from I-77 in Beckley, WV, to the WV/VA state line near Slate, VA. Mr. Browning stated that personnel from the West Virginia Division of Highways and the Coalfields Expressway Authority will be on hand to answer one-on-one questions from citizens. Mr. Browning stated that he had placed ads in all the local newspapers announcing the meetings.
Mr. Browning reported on the ISTEA II federal highway legislation currently moving through congress. Browning reported that one version of the legislation had already passed the senate and included $214 billion for highway, highway safety, and mass transit programs over the next 6 years. The bill does not specifically priortize funding for any highway project in southern West Virginia, but did increase federal funding for highway projects in West Virginia as a whole. Browning stated that Senator Byrd was instrumental is securing the additional funding for West Virginia.
Mr. Browning then reported on the U.S. House of Representatives version of the bill which passed the House Transportation Committee unanimously. This bill contains $217 billion for transportation in the country and includes $9 billion for "high priority" corridor projects like the Coalfields Expressway and other projects that were named in the 1991 ISTEA legislation. The Coalfields Expressway, as well as other highway projects in southern West Virginia, are identified in the bill by reference to the 1991 legislation. Browning stated that Congressman Nick Rahall was instrumental in preserving the priority status of the Coalfields Expressway in the bill. The bill will be voted on by the entire House of Representatives later this week. Browning urged members to write their representatives in support of this legislation.
Susan Stewart then presented the monthly financial report to the Authority, which was approved unanimously.
In other business, Andrew T. Boyd, WV Development Office representative on the Authority, discussed his ongoing project of researching economic development associated with new highway construction.
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