Published: May 21, 2009 11:11 pm      

Authority lambasted at Beckley toll hearing

Local residents say they bear most financial burden for road that’s now in shambles

More than 70 people poured into the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center Thursday night practically armed with festering, rotten tomatoes aimed at the state Parkways Authority.

The vast majority said they were the ones hit hardest in their wallets to drive on a crumbling highway managed by people they called traitors, feudal overlords and “the Three Stooges” — to name a few insults. Authority members, most said, need to be sacked.

The Parkways Authority conducted its third public hearing Thursday on its proposed West Virginia Turnpike toll hike. Based on traffic engineering studies, the authority is tentatively examining a 60 percent increase that would have passenger car drivers paying $2 per barrier instead of $1.25. Five-axle trucks would pay $6.75 instead of the present $4.25.

A West Virginia E-Z Pass would lower the per barrier charge to $1.50 for cars and $5.06 for the commercial rigs.

Authority board members will cast the decisive vote June 25, after a final public hearing in Princeton scheduled for today. The last long-term turnpike toll increase was in 1981.

Travis Prince of Beckley called the agency a “complete and utter failure,” and motorists must now bear the burden for its mistakes.

Prince said tolls should have been gradually increased over time and maintenance should not have been deferred.

“There is no question: Southern West Virginia residents are the victims of your mismanagement of highway funds,” he said. “Never, never forget the good people of southern West Virginia you have betrayed.”

Several residents pointed out the toll booth locations relative to Raleigh County. Northbound drivers do not come to a toll booth until passing the 28-mile marker Ghent exit. Likewise, southbound motorists can travel from Charleston to the 85-mile marker Chelyan exit before having to pay.

While most toll revenues may come from out-of-state drivers, they said Raleigh County residents have to pay the most to travel the turnpike. Some suggested moving toll plazas — like moving the Ghent booths south to ensure Winterplace visitors from the south do not have a free ride.

“Everyone in Princeton drives it for free and everyone in Charleston drives it for free,” Carl Milam of Crab Orchard said. “But I have to pay another toll to drive up (to the North Beckley exit) to go shopping at the mall and spend my money. It’s not right in no way.”

Others questioned why only the turnpike has tolls and miles of other interstate highways in the state do not. Scott Long works as a registered nurse at Charleston Area Medical Center, and his commute may become even more expensive. Meanwhile, co-workers from Logan, Huntington and Parkersburg have no tolls.

Kenneth Keatley of Shady Spring recalled a brief toll hike in early 2006 — which was overturned in court — and said several motorists took the Ghent exit and traveled U.S. 19 through Beckley to avoid tolls. That caused a traffic problem for locals.

The turnpike’s overall condition and how it is or isn’t maintained was another major source of ire.

“You all need to get out of the office. Then get into or borrow an older vehicle and drive it,” Sam Shrewsbury of Beckley said. “Not everyone has a state-owned vehicle with premium seats. If I got you or the governor to do that, you’d have to stop at Raleigh General Hospital to have your backs repaired.”

Shrewsbury then encouraged all motorists to pay their tolls in loose pennies until the road is fixed and the turnpike’s bonds are paid off.

“You guys have done a poor job,” Mark Ayers said. “I drive down the road, and there’s one man cutting concrete while seven men are watching. You’ve got eight men scratching their hind ends. I own a construction company and our guys laugh about that.

“We do our jobs and we feed our families. You don’t, and you still feed your families. You should be fired — every one of you.”

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com