ok. This royally pi$es me off. Why do we( panhandle) have to pay for roads every where else in the state?!! WTF? We're getting hit ( possiably) with THREE roads here in the panhandles turning into toll roads and the money may not even be used here for the crappy roads we have! This is SO unfair! I didn't even vote for manchin and now he wants me to fund his roads down there. What about the other sections of the state? oh, wait....I35...whoopee.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaysto...amp;format=html

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Despite attempts by two Eastern Panhandle state senators to delay the bill or put conditions on it, a controversial proposal that will allow tolls on local highways like W.Va. 9, U.S. 340 and U.S. 522 passed during the closing moments of the state legislative session in Charleston, W.Va., over the weekend.



Eastern Panhandle lawmakers criticized the idea pushed by Gov. Joe Manchin. Sen. John Unger said previously that the idea basically boiled down to Manchin "looking to the Eastern Panhandle as an ATM machine."




http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.d...6.html?nav=5006


CHARLESTON — A Sunday drive along U.S. 340 or 522 could soon involve a stop at a toll booth.

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure debated a bill that would permit public-private partnerships to help finance roadway construction projects in West Virginia. The legislation, which was passed out of the House of Delegates earlier, is eyed as a way to establish additional funding for the state’s Division of Highways, and speed up needed projects, but that currently cannot be funded.

Area legislators, however, say the measure would serve as just one more way to tax the Eastern Panhandle, and then send the money elsewhere. Three of the four roads that have been discussed for possible toll road construction — W.Va. 9, U.S. 522, U.S. 340, and W.Va. 35 — are in the Eastern Panhandle, said Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley.

The legislation does not outline specifically which roads will be constructed through the partnerships, though Unger said discussions about the bill commonly involve these roadways.

Unger said unlike existing toll roads in West Virginia, there are no requirements that money generated from the new roads would have to stay in the area where funds are generated, causing some area lawmakers to regard the legislation as a means for a new form of taxation, instead of something that they can stand behind.

“If we actually got to keep the money in the Eastern Panhandle, it might be something I would actually consider,” said Sen. John Yoder, R-Jefferson, adding that without such an assurance he has trouble supporting the bill.

I agree that the Eastern Panhandle probably would not benefit much from the money collected off of this. That was always the way it was with revenue from the racetrack. Lets see them start giving Jefferson County some of the money from the racetrack to support keeping teachers here and building new schools before we do this stupid sounding toll road project.

I can't imagine even where'd they put a toll plaza on 340. That road is so heavily traveled now, when they were doing work between the bridges, traffic was all messed up. I travel 340 every day in Jefferson County and just can't imagine the traffic tie ups.

As far as route 9, I think it would be the same problem. I haven't traveled 522 in so long, I wouldn't know. If they did this on 340, I'd just change my route and take state 230 from Shepherdstown.

Siriun, unless I'm mistaken, the race track/slots is providing all kinds of money to Jefferson County. Right now, Jeff Co. Sheriff's Dept and Charles Town Police Dept. are some of the highest paid departments in the state. Not sure about education.

Paying a toll to go over the mountian on rt9 to Berkly Spring is crazy. But hey people pay to ride a rolly coaster.
Rt. 522 is a short cut for truckers to get to Winchester comming off of rt-68 & 70-East from Pa. Also if I-70 gets backed up by an accident. 522 wil be backed up to Wolfordsburg. and Hancock will be nothing but trucks. They are still thinking of putting a toll on I 81. Can`t wait see that one.

You must be mistaken, Yoss. Or perhaps things have changed since I moved. Jefferson County only got about 3% of the money the state makes from the racetrack when I lived there. And when Jefferson County's population began increasing, they wouldn't give us any more teachers or money to build schools, either. We had to fight and fight just to start planning a new high school. I have no idea if it is even built yet....................

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.d.../id/501787.html