HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 40
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Michael, Martin,
Mezzatesta, Proudfoot, Riggs, Collins, Stalnaker, Amores,
Anderson, Ashley, Azinger, Beach, Beane, Boggs, Border,
Butcher, Campbell, Cann, Capito, Caputo, Claypole, Clements,
Coleman, Compton, Dalton, Damron, Davis, Dempsey, Douglas,
Doyle, Ennis, Evans, Everson, Facemyer, Faircloth, Fantasia,
Flanigan, Fragale, Gillespie, Given, Givens, Hall, Harrison,
Heck, Henderson, Hubbard, Hunt, Hutchins, Jenkins, Johnson,
Kelley, Kominar, Kuhn, Laird, Leach, Leggett, Linch, Louisos,
Manuel, Miller, Osborne, Overington, Pettit, Pino, Prunty,
Pulliam, Rowe, Seacrist, Shelton, Smirl, Smith, Sparks,
Spencer, Staton, Stemple, Thomas, Thompson, Tillis, Tomblin,
Trump, Tucker, Underwood, Varner, Walters, Warner, Webb, C.
White, H. White, L. White, Williams, Willis, Willison, Wright
and Yeager )
Supporting the completion of Corridor H connecting Elkins, West
Virginia, in addition to other communities in the east
central portion of the state, to the Virginia Border.
Whereas, There is a long-standing need in east central West
Virginia for modern transportation infrastructure and for the completion of Corridor H; and
Whereas, Completion of this major highway Corridor, which is
part of the Appalachian Highway System, will increase efficiency
for travelers and will make driving through mountainous terrain
much safer, and will reduce the number of accidents including
fatal ones; and
Whereas, Economic vitality, commerce and communication along
the route will increase with the completion of Corridor H, and
new businesses and services will become more available to the
east central region of the State due to the ease of traffic
flow; and
Whereas, Corridor H will provide economical and efficient
access to population markets which are as close as one hundred
fifty miles away, and will provide a boost to tourism in the
State of West Virginia with the influx of visitors from those
markets; and
Whereas, Corridor H will provide access to areas in the
eastern United States which have primary markets, centers of
government and seaports, which markets have been identified as
having growth potential, and will make accessible West
Virginia's timber and other natural resources to the vast
industrial capacity of the northeast; and
Whereas, The completion of Corridor H will provide an
economic boon to the entire State and to the areas along the
route, and therefore, enhance the opportunities for West
Virginia residents to remain and prosper in the State; and
Whereas, It has been well documented through public opinion
surveys that state residents overwhelmingly support
infrastructure projects such as Corridor H, and clearly support
this missing link to the Appalachian Highway System; and
Whereas, Federal dollars have been set aside to use for the
completion of the highway and state funds are readily available
to pay the state's share; and
Whereas, The Federal Highway Administration and the Division
of Highways have given careful consideration to the natural,
cultural and historical assets of the area traversed by Corridor
H; and
Whereas, Environmental studies and legal challenges to date
have documented that construction of the highway, while
avoiding, preserving or providing adequate mitigation measures
to affected resources, is easily achievable; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the completion of Corridor H connecting Elkins, West
Virginia, to the Virginia border, is hereby supported; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby requested to
forward a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Robert C.
Byrd.