HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 30

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Varner, DeLong, Swartzmiller, Ennis, Givens, Fahey, G. White, Tucker, Pethtel, Romine, Leggett, Anderson, Border Azinger, Beane and Ellem)


[Introduced March 21, 2001; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


Requesting the Governor of West Virginia, our Congressional delegation, the Secretary of Transportation and the Commissioner of the Division of Highways to support and assist the completion of West Virginia Route 2 between Parkersburg and Chester and Interstate 68, between Moundsville and Morgantown.

WHEREAS, Better roads benefit the citizens of West Virginia and must exist before economic development thrives; and
WHEREAS, Construction and completion of Route 2 and I-68 will significantly contribute to the improvement of transportation into, from, within and through the northern panhandle, assist in regional economic development and generally enhance highway safety; and
WHEREAS, The northern panhandle frequently faces the challenge of working with a terrain often difficult and costly to develop; and
WHEREAS, State and federal officials have demonstrated their commitment by providing the necessary resources to help complete Route 2 and I-68 and foster economic development in the northern panhandle; and
WHEREAS, These resources include the West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority, created by an act of the Legislature in 1997, and responsible for promoting and advancing the roadway's construction; and
WHEREAS, The Authority's efforts, along with municipalities, and state and federal agencies, continue to advocate the economic, community, recreational and tourism development aspects of Route 2, I-68; and
WHEREAS, This effort must continue since Route 2 and I-68 is a component of the National Highway System, making the project eligible for federal funds; and
WHEREAS, Inclusion in the National Highway System makes it an integral part of the nation's most important long-distance, high-speed highway system, providing efficient, safe and convenient movement of goods and people throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, The prompt construction is indispensable to the economic development of the northern panhandle of West Virginia and time is of the essence; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Governor of West Virginia, our Congressional delegation, the Secretary of Transportation and the Commissioner of the Division of Highways support and assist the completion of Route 2, I-68; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward copies of this resolution to the Governor of West Virginia, our Congressional delegation, the Secretary of Transportation and the Commissioner of the Division of Transportation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the House of Delegates of West Virginia in this matter.