The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved 18 concurrent resolutions and two House bills to be reported to the floor with the recommendation that they pass.
SCR 33 would name a bridge in Kanawha County the US Army Ranger SGT Richard E. Arden Memorial Bridge.
SCR 42 would name a bridge in Grant County the Five Champ Brothers Bridge.
SCR 49 would erect signs in Kanawha County declaring Home of Ralph Maddox 1980 NHPA Hall of Fame.
HCR 13 would name a bridge in Roane County the U.S. Army SSG Brian Curtis Rogers Bridge.
HCR 20 would name a bridge in Logan County the US Army PVT James Earl Pelfrey Memorial Bridge.
HCR 22 would name a bridge in Logan County the U.S. Air Force MSgt Johnny Baxter Clark and U.S. Air Force MSgt Carl Richard (Dick) Clark Memorial Bridge.
HCR 36 would name a bridge in Cabell County the U.S. Army PFC John Ira Pinkerman Memorial Bridge.
HCR 49 would name a bridge in Logan County the U.S. Army PFC Donald Ray Cochran Memorial Bridge.
HCR 51 would name a bridge in Logan County the Toby” Runyon Memorial Bridge.
HCR 54 would name a bridge in Randolph County the U.S. Army PVT Preston D. Vanscoy Memorial Bridge.
HCR 60 would name a bridge in Marion County the William “Bill” R. VanGilder Memorial Bridge.
HCR 82 would name a bridge in Monongalia County the U.S. Marine Sergeant David Paul McCord Memorial Bridge.
HCR 5 would name a bridge in Taylor County the U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Frederick Burdett Warder Memorial Bridge.
HCR 8 would name a bridge in Mason County the Dr. Roy and Marian Eshenaur Memorial Bridge.
HCR 10 would name a bridge in Greenbrier County the John Cameron Brown Memorial Bridge.
HCR 24 would name a bridge in Upshur County the U.S. Army SGT. Eugene Arbogast Memorial Bridge.
HCR 27 would name a bridge in Logan County the U.S. Army 1LT Patricia Simon Memorial Bridge.
HB 2694 would develop and implement a program to facilitate commercial sponsorship of rest areas, welcome centers and roads.
The fiscal note from the Division of Highways (DOH) indicates the bill could raise around $450,000 annually for the state.
The bill will be referred to Senate Finance once reported to the full Senate.
HB 3064 would permit the DOH to issue annual permits allowing vehicles of a size and weight exceeding certain specifications to operate over specified routes designated by the commissioner.
The maximum gross vehicle weight permitted under the bill is 120,000 pounds.
The fiscal note from the DOH indicates the bill could cost the state $8,000 each year in DOH engineering evaluations and raise $40,000 for the state in annual permit fees.
DOH Highway Maintenance Director Kyle Stollings was available to answer questions from committee members about how the DOH would handle the bill.
Jason Wazelle of Norfolk Southern said he was concerned about the lack of provisions in the bill for funding repairs if there is damage done to a road due to extensive wear from heavier vehicles using the road.
Rachael Kaufman of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in West Virginia said they had asked for the bill to be drafted since it would help to address road regulations in the state that hamper their productivity.
Kaufman said Toyota and the Chamber of Commerce see the bill as “an economic driver for business.”
Senator Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, proposed an amendment to the bill to allow Toyota to determine the specific routes that need deregulation with the Legislature, rather than specifically having the DOH determine the routes.
The amendment was rejected, since many senators felt that the DOH would be able to better meet the needs of both the roads and vehicle manufacturers than the Legislature.
