SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 65

(By Senators Walters, Leonhardt, Gaunch, Mullins and Woelfel)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study state road funding needs, alternative ways of providing additional funding for new roads and bridges and improvements to existing roads and bridge to foster public safety, health and welfare and promote economic development and jobs.

            Whereas, Roads maintained by the Department of Transportation include: (1) 38,684 miles of public roads (2012 Public Certified Mileage); (2) 35,893 miles of state-owned highways; (3) 468 miles of state-owned interstate highway; (4) 88 miles of West Virginia Turnpike; (5) 1,972 miles included in the National Highway System, 23 miles of which are connectors to other modes of transportation such as airports, trains and buses; (6) 6,914 bridges of which 33 percent are more than 100 feet in length; (7) one all-American road; (8) five national byways; (9) 14 state byways; and (10) eight backways; and

            Whereas, A 2012 road needs assessment prepared for Governor Tomblin's Blue Ribbon Commission by Wilbur Smith Associates revealed that during the next 17 years: (1) 51,108 lane miles of road will need to be improved; (2) 10,401 lane miles will need modernization improvements including lane widening, road reconstruction and shoulder improvements; and (3) 3,402 lane miles will need to be constructed; and

            Whereas, The Wilbur Smith needs assessment also concluded that over a 25-year period: (1) 814 bridges will need to be replaced; (2) 577 bridges will need to be widened; (3) eight bridges will need to be straightened; and (4) one bridge will need to be razed; and

            Whereas, Road construction, improvements and maintenance are primarily funded by taxes and fees on motor vehicles and motor fuels; and

            Whereas, The Wilbur Smith needs assessment projected the funding gap for road construction and maintenance over the next 25 years to be $36.7 billion, excluding new road construction; and the funding gap for bridges construction and maintenance was estimated to be $2.4 billion, excluding the cost of new bridge construction; and

            Whereas, Modern, safe roads and bridges are essential to the growth of our communities and the public health, welfare and safety and are critical to economic development and jobs; and

            Whereas, Counties need greater ability to influence when and where new roads are constructed and existing roads and bridges are modernized or upgraded, the ability to recommend to the Division of Highways road and bridge construction projects, and to assist in the financing of those projects; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study state road funding needs, alternative ways of providing additional funding for new roads and bridges and improvements to existing roads and bridge to foster public safety, health and welfare and promote economic development and jobs; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2016, 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.