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Since moving here for college I have realized how bad the rds are here, so much traffic all the time!!! Something needs to be done!!!
Yes.
The state refused to give any funds to Morgantown despite its size and its status as fastest growing city in WV. The state government hates Morgantown.
Morgantown is heavily taxed to benefit the southern part of the state. They treat us like a ATM taking and NEVER giving. Since we have the best economy in WV they feel it is Morgantown's responsibility to fund the welfare of most of the state. If Morgantown had a million people in it they wouldnt give us an extra penny.
Yep, students like you need to leave your car at home every weekday. Take advantage of the bus and PRT. When you get to your class buildings early, study. It's a great way to get ahead in class - find a quiet nook somewhere. Leave the roads for the adults who have jobs and nothing to study.
As for the congestion, peak times are bad throughout the school year, but the off peak traffic decreases once students learn that they can't get to their destinations as quickly by vehicle and that parking fees really add up.
Honest question, not being facetious, what has the city of Morgantown done to make their infrastructure better? If you are going to lay the blame solely on the state, to me that would mean the city has done everything they can. Have they?
I'm not exactly sure of all they have done, since I've only spent the last 4 years there. The problem is that the main roads are owned by the state and the fact that most of the development, and thus traffic, has happened in the West Run area which is outside city limits. They tried to fix a lot of the roads by way of a service fee which was ultimately voted against in 2007, I believe. That would have fixed almost everything. Since then, apartments have sprung up all over the West Run area, making the original 705 Connector (Pastureland Parkway) impossible, hence the Mileground widening about to take place. Due to the lack of funds, most of the effort has gone into promoting alternative forms of transportation and traffic mitigation that doesn't require new road projects.
If you want to know about the original plans, search for '705 connector,' 'pastureland parkway,' 'west run expressway,' 'inner loop,' or 'falling run connector.'
Honest question, not being facetious, what has the city of Morgantown done to make their infrastructure better? If you are going to lay the blame solely on the state, to me that would mean the city has done everything they can. Have they?
Morgantown is always improving the local roads under its jurisdiction.
The roads the state is in charge of are not funded. They are the bottlenecks. They make all the traffic.
Also, it will be interesting to see what happens if the Home Rule is extended and expanded for WV municipalities. By most accounts, the pilot program was a success - even if some beautiful homes were demolished in Wheeling. Morgantown was an original participant in the pilot program but backed out in 2008. The city manager, Terrance Moore, has stated that the city would be interested in applying again if/when the Home Rule is expanded to other cities. If so, maybe the city can have some creative flexibility to solve some of its transportation issues.
So although somewhat inadequate, without the main state roads things would be even worse? And havoc, do you have any specific examples of improvements that Morgantown has done to its roads? One thing that the city did that was counterproductive was the sidewalks on Beechurst. You could drive a car down those things. If they were normal size, you could fit at least an extra lane there.
One thing that I can think of that could be done that hasn't is improving access to downtown via Stewart St and or Don Nehlen Dr/Willowdale. If they would widen that road and give another main way into downtown, this would lessen the stress on the state roads. It would also connect well into many of the new developments. Locals or those who are familiar with the area know these roads but if they would widen them with better signage, it would likely help those not so familiar with the area to use that road. Also, the pastureland parkway was supposed to go through WVU farms as I understood it. That is somethings that they could still do.
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