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No, they are not in the highway business at all...they are in the hospital business.
Our highways should be done by the government, but they do not seem to be very interested.
If the highway people could send a team of highway engineers to Portland, Oregon for a few weeks, they would see what could be done to make Morgantown workable.
Portland is divided by the Willamette River (about the size of the Mon). Overhead skyways 6 lanes wide take the traffic overhead and move it effortlessly around and away from the city. It also gives a wonderful Disneyland view or that city and its great buildings and river front.
These concrete roads are panelized and suspended on concrete pillars. Right of ways are almost not needed.
It's a model that should be imitated here as it is functional, cheap to build, and astetically beautiful.
Charleston has a smattering of this, but theres is too big and does not blend into the valley...all a person can see is concrete highway.
Kennedy is right. The money is already there in Morgantown. The previous developers will likely get back online too when the economy picks up. Local banks are conservative to begin with, so the downturn caused some hesitation, but anyone can see the potential that exists there. That's why development continues and money is being invested in spite of the economy. The biggest problem is inefficient and corrupt state government. I have a hunch that will be fixed in the not too distant future as well. With adequate infrastructure the sky is the limit and the entire state will benefit as a result.
The problem is the infrastructure in most of the state. There is such a backwards mentality to growth it's not funny.
Places like Winchester or even Hagerstown had municipal infrastructure pre-planned and areas of growth identified through good comprehensive planning. We simply lack the governmental tools to accomplish that, and a lot of it has to do with the centralized power structure in this state.
We're not 20 years behind the times, we're a lifetime behind the times.
The problem is the infrastructure in most of the state. There is such a backwards mentality to growth it's not funny.
Places like Winchester or even Hagerstown had municipal infrastructure pre-planned and areas of growth identified through good comprehensive planning. We simply lack the governmental tools to accomplish that, and a lot of it has to do with the centralized power structure in this state.
We're not 20 years behind the times, we're a lifetime behind the times.
You're right, but the situation is exacorbated in West Virginia by corrupt and pork barreling politicos. They throw money at infrastructure and redundant programming in areas that are either barely growing, not growing, or actually losing population, and ignore areas with demonstrated needs due to growth related congestion.
I believe that situation will be rectified with a new administration, and over time changing demographics will also bring about changes.
Kennedy is right. The money is already there in Morgantown. The previous developers will likely get back online too when the economy picks up. Local banks are conservative to begin with, so the downturn caused some hesitation, but anyone can see the potential that exists there. That's why development continues and money is being invested in spite of the economy. The biggest problem is inefficient and corrupt state government. I have a hunch that will be fixed in the not too distant future as well. With adequate infrastructure the sky is the limit and the entire state will benefit as a result.
The problem is that Morgantown's developer have proven they can't be trusted. West Run Road. That's all the proof you need. Unless the gov't spends the money rationally, there will be no end to the irrationality of the private money...
We simply lack the governmental tools to accomplish that, and a lot of it has to do with the centralized power structure in this state.
We're not 20 years behind the times, we're a lifetime behind the times.
Amen to that! Even with things like the home rule project, the cities still have to get permission from Charleston to do things, even though the whole concept of home rule is to do things not being done in the state currently. In Huntington, trying to institute some of their home rule policies has ended up in fights with the insurance board and others with the argument that what they are trying to do goes against state policy, even though the state approved the policies being implemented.
And political corruption is still corruption even if the project in question serves you or if it's "your man" in power. It all depends on your point of view whether or not YOU see it as corruption. I'm sure the people in Fairmont don't think the money being spent on them is corrupt and unfair, I'm sure they welcome it. I don't agree with it and don't think that the new exit is needed but if it does increase use and development in the city of Fairmont AND was done legally and fairly, then it has worked. Unless someone is benefitting from it through back door deals and doing it unfairly, it's not able to be called corruption. We'd all rather see that $150 million spent in our areas but that doesn't mean it's corruption. I'd say a better example of corruption is Rep. Mollohan funneling money to his private companies and using government funds to do so. He is still being investigated by the way.
CT, putting government money into the state via Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling etc. isn't corruption just because it doesn't serve everyone directly. If the state abandons the current population centers, especially Huntington and Charleston (those 2 being the biggest by far), and puts no money into them, then the state as a whole would suffer just as they would benefit from areas growing. You should want to see these areas grow and you can't do that by cutting off funding. As I proposed before, state funding would be better served by giving funding based on population. Then an area gets what they need and doesn't get shafted just because those in power have issues and then growth is rewarded too. This should be at least looked into with municipal funding and higher ed funding as well. Then the counties could be responsible for dealing with some roads and other infrastrucure rather than the state. County governments serve little purpose in our state the way they are currently set up. The county governments could do so much more and this too would help to de-centralize things a bit.
Tim, I'm not saying the stagnant or declining areas
should be abandoned, not at all. I am saying throwing
money into infrastructure there when there is an
obvious demand generated need for it elsewhere is
short sighted ... stupid even, and reflects the generally
corrupt political environment in the State. Put some
money into helping those areas retool so that they can
develop economies and workforces relevant to today's
realities, but not into unnecessary roads and redundant
programs.
You definitely won't get any argument from me on the
need to get Mollohan out of Congress. Mollohan,
Rockefeller, Manchin, and all those old line politicos
are the main reason our state ranks either last or next
to last on most significant issues. We need leadership
that recognizes opportunity and takes advantage of it,
and that does not do things that promote the status
quo... political pork barreling, regional quareling, and
irrational jealousy. Leadership that sees the State as
a viable unit and that builds rational teamwork.
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