SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 63

(By Senators Cline, Mullins, Stollings, Plymale, Beach and Swope)

[Introduced April 6, 2017]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study options for financing the continued construction and completion of the Coalfields Expressway.

Whereas, U. S. Route 121 is a proposed highway designated as the Coalfields Expressway, a four-lane highway stretching from Beckley, West Virginia, to Pound, Virginia, approximately sixty-two miles in length; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Transportation officially requested designation of the Coalfields Expressway as U. S. 121 in May of 1998. It was intended to be constructed as a four-lane, partially-controlled access highway with at-grade intersections. It is also intended to be built to the same specifications as Corridor G, H and other Appalachian Development Highway System highways; and

Whereas, Construction started in 1999 with a three-level diamond interchange near Welch in western West Virginia. This was intended to facilitate traffic going between the King Coal Highway/Interstate 73/Interstate 74 and the Coalfields Expressway (U. S. 121); and

Whereas, Grading work was completed in 2003 but the interchange remains incomplete as of 2017; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby directed to study options for financing the continued construction and completion of the Coalfields Expressway; and, be it

Further Resolved, That study include potential financing options available to complete construction of U. S. 121, including, but not limited to, through the issuance of special obligation notes, by securing federal matching funds, and through the addition of automated toll booths; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, in 2018, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with any drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That input shall be sought from appropriate state and local agencies and organizations, including the Department of Transportation; and, be it

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