The
governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Highways is scheduled to meet at 10
a.m. at the state capitol.
The
commission is set to approve final recommendations on their three-pronged
approach and discuss the centerpiece of that proposal which is to allow
the state Parkways Authority to issue $1 billion in road bonds.
The
idea would keep the tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike for another 30
years to raise future funds. The proposal is modeled after a recent $1.5
billion bond issue by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.
The
commission chose to postpone a vote on the $1 billion Parkways
bond proposal in a meeting earlier this month in order to give
members more time research the idea.
Also
in the commisson’s three pronged approach is a proposal to raise various
Division of Motor Vehicle fees to the tune of 77 million dollars a year. In
addition, the commission would like to dedicate sales tax collections on
purchases of auto parts, services or repairs to the state Road Fund.
Also
built into the proposal is a requirement that a certain percentage of the
revenue would be spent in the four counties that the Turnpike travels
through and a rate freeze for those who currently have a West Virginia E-ZPass.
The
current proposal, which is the product of nine public hearings around the state
and a survey of nearly 1,400 residents, has been criticized by some state
lawmakers.
After Thursday’s meeting, the
proposal will then go to the governor for consideration.
