Partnerships part of the state's plan to address future road projects
MORGANTOWN – The words 'partners' and 'partnerships' were repeated time and again Monday as Gov. Patrick Morrisey laid out foundational changes in how the state is going to address roads under his administration.
The collaborative spirit is an apparent change in attitude rooted in necessity.
Pointing to decades of under-investment in maintenance and significant bond debt taken on for construction projects through the Roads to Prosperity program, Morrisey said the West Virginia Department of Transportation will be doing more with less and operating with a renewed focus on maintenance.
As for new construction projects coveted by public and private entities across the state, they may require some local skin in the game to get built — partners, if you will.
Long story short, the state needs help.
'We have to acknowledge that one of the things that we're talking about today are partnerships with counties. We're going to be working with the counties even more aggressively than you've seen in the past. That's critical because the state doesn't have the resources to address every single need that's out there,' Morrisey said, further explaining investment from the private sector can be brought to bear for high-priority projects through public-private partnerships.
This should be music to the ears of many in Monongalia County.
The process was pioneered here nearly a decade ago.
On Sept. 1, 2016, former Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin was in town to formally open Interstate 79 exit 153. The $22-million interchange was the first major highways project in West Virginia, and possibly the country, that was born of an agreement between the county, state, Federal Highways Administration and a private developer – WestRidge.
Within two years or so of its opening, sales tax-increment financing from the surrounding economic development (TIF) district fully repaid the state's investment.
'You know, you would have thought the state would have celebrated that and set that up as a model going forward as to how we can work together collaboratively, because they put that interchange in for WestRidge, and they got their money back in two or three years,' Glenn Adrian said. 'But it was like nobody really celebrated that or was really paying attention.'
But Adrian, co-founder of Enrout Properties, was definitely paying attention.
Shortly after exit 153 was completed, public/private efforts for two additional projects began in earnest: the overhaul of the neighboring I-79 exit 155, again with WestRidge, and construction of a new Harmony Grove interchange providing interstate access to Enrout's Morgantown Industrial Park.
Movement on both has been slow, despite local buy-in.
On exit 155, Monongalia County Commissioner Sean Sikora pointed out that not only has $5 million in local support for the project's engineering and prep work been committed, but the county and its partners pulled down a $54.3-million federal grant for the work despite having a $66-million pledge from the state in hand.
As for Harmony Grove, Adrian said former WVDOT leadership actually signed a public-private agreement with Enrout and Monongalia County in 2020. Through that agreement, any funding generated by the Harmony Grove TIF district beyond repayment to bond holders would go directly to the state to reimburse its portion of the new interchange.
'The problem is, that had been forgotten,' Adrian said, explaining he spoke with Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbugh following Monday's announcement. 'He was delighted to hear that we'd already set up a collaboration agreement to pledge tax increment to reimburse the state. He said, 'I don't think any of us knew that.''
Sikora said it's refreshing to hear a governor 'speaking our language' in terms of implementing a data-driven approach to transportation spending. Further, he said Monongalia County has proven that a collaborative approach to major projects can work.
'We're willing to think outside the box and come up with answers. We don't say, 'Hey, we have this problem, fix it.' We bring solutions to the table,' Sikora said, adding 'The other counties shouldn't take this news with fear. We're looking to continue the growth here and in some of these areas so that we can help push for growth in other areas. A rising tide lifts all boats.'
Adrian had similar thoughts.
'As Mon County typically is, we were ahead of the curve in recognizing the fact that we were willing to help the state get its money back for its portion of these projects, which goes hand in hand with what the governor was saying about working with the counties if they have a project they're interested in developing,' he said. 'If we can get the projects we need and help reimburse the state leading to future investment here or elsewhere, that helps everyone.'
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