SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 55

(By Senators Beach, Kirkendoll, Facemire, Fitzsimmons, McCabe, Plymale, Williams, Barnes and Cole)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the consolidation of the operations and functions of the West Virginia Parkways Authority within the Division of Highways.

    Whereas, The West Virginia Parkways Authority was created in 1989 and was assigned the powers, duties and functions of the former West Virginia Turnpike Commission; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Parkways Authority has an annual operating budget of approximately $83 million; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Parkways Authority and the Division of Highways both exist as separate administrative agencies within the State Department of Transportation; and

    Whereas, Many of the operations and functions of the West Virginia Parkways Authority mirror those of the Division of Highways, including, but not limited to, maintenance of the road surface, rights of way and highway structures, administration of human resources, accounting, purchasing, and project specification and management; and

    Whereas, The continued operation of two separate agencies carrying out similar functions perpetuates inherent inefficiencies in the provision of services to the public and unnecessary duplication of costs; and

    Whereas, The continued operation of the West Virginia Turnpike as an express vehicular corridor with restricted access to facilitate rapid and safe transit through southern West Virginia will continue to benefit the people and the economy of the State of West Virginia; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the consolidation of the operations and functions of the West Virginia Parkways Authority within the Division of Highways; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the potential benefits, impact and feasibility of dissolving the West Virginia Parkways Authority and transferring all of the powers, duties and functions of that agency to the Division of Highways while preserving the character of the West Virginia Turnpike as a financially self-supporting highway unit through tolls and restricted access; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2014, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.