H. B. 2101
(By Delegate McGraw)
[Introduced February 11, 1993; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article sixteen-a, chapter seventeen of the code
of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto two new sections, designated
sections nineteen-a and nineteen-b, relating to creating a
system of economic development passes for use on the West
Virginia turnpike.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article sixteen-a, chapter seventeen of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended,
be amended by adding thereto two new sections, designated
sections nineteen-a and nineteen-b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 16A. WEST VIRGINIA PARKWAYS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
TOURISM AUTHORITY.
§17-16A-19a. Legislative purpose and findings.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the health,
safety and welfare of the people of West Virginia are enhanced by
the continued encouragement, development, growth and expansion ofprivate enterprise, the building of homes, the freedom of
movement of the residents of West Virginia. The Legislature also
finds and declares that there are certain chronic economically
depressed areas in the state that need particular attention to
create new jobs, stimulate residential building, stimulate
economic activity and permit the expansion of the urban economy
in the Kanawha County area of West Virginia into southern West
Virginia.
The Legislature further declares that the tolls collected
from West Virginia residents and businesses on Interstate Highway
77 and Interstate Highway 64 between Beckley, West Virginia and
other areas served by Interstate Highway 64 and Interstate
Highway 77 are regressive, restrictive and destructive to
commercial and residential growth and development not only in
Raleigh County, West Virginia, but in all the counties of
southern West Virginia served by Interstate Highway 77.
The Legislature further finds and declares that expansion of
both residential and commercial development along the eighty-
eight mile toll portion of Interstate Highway 77 through southern
West Virginia, known as the West Virginia turnpike, has not
proceeded as rapidly as other nontoll interstates and that
collection of tolls from West Virginia residents and businesses
has created an economic development vacuum because ordinary
citizens and businesses cannot utilize the development potential
along the eighty-eight mile Interstate Highway 77 because of the
unreasonable and prohibitive expense incurred in order to travelthe highway on a daily basis.
The Legislature further finds that special legislation has
been enacted to create economic development in other areas of the
state by granting rewards and incentives to special interests,
including, but not limited to, the incentives set forth in the
provisions of articles one, two-a, two-b, three, four and six of
chapter five-b; article one, chapter five-d; and articles
thirteen-c, article thirteen-d, article thirteen-e and article
thirteen-h of this code. For the further purpose of enhancing
and promoting these inducements for economic development in
southern West Virginia, the Legislature directs the removal of
the toll burden from businesses served by and West Virginia
residents who live near, travel on or work at businesses located
along or adjacent to the eighty-eight miles of Interstate Highway
77 known as the West Virginia turnpike.
§17-16A-19b. Economic development pass for West Virginia
residents and businesses.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the
contrary, as soon as reasonably possible after the effective date
of this section, but in no event later than the first day of
July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, the West Virginia
parkways, economic development and tourism authority shall
establish, advertise, implement and make generally available to
all West Virginia residents who live near, travel on or work
along the West Virginia turnpike and to the businesses which are
served by the turnpike, a system of economic development passes.The economic development passes shall, at a minimum, permit the
holder to travel the West Virginia turnpike and toll facilities
on an unlimited basis, without additional charge therefor, for a
period of one year. Each permit may be renewed each year
thereafter at an annual cost not to exceed an aggregate of more
than one dollar per year.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make available to West
Virginia residents and businesses an economic development pass
for use on the West Virginia Turnpike.
Sections 19-a and 19-b are new; therefore, strike-throughs
and underscoring have been omitted.