The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 9, 2013

State receives transportation and rec funds

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter

Counties across southern West Virginia benefited from federal transportation enhancement and recreational trail grants presented by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin Monday.

According the Tomblin’s office, a total of $7,036,864 was awarded to 36 projects across the state as a part of the 2012 Transportation Enhancement Grant Program.

The West Virginia Transportation Enhancement Grant Program is a federal-aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. The program provides annual funding for non-traditional transportation projects such as improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists through the construction of sidewalks and trails, preserving historic resources and stimulating tourism development.

Fayette County received $80,000 for a sidewalk project on Virginia Street.

Fayette and Greenbrier counties were awarded $250,000 for work on the Meadow River Rail Trail.

Greenbrier County received $158,400 for Main Street streetscape, $240,000 for Kanawha Avenue streetscape, and $300,000 for U.S. 219 sidewalk project in Lewisburg.

Jointly, Greenbrier and Monroe counties received $360,000 for the Alderson Memorial Bridge understructure and McDowell and Raleigh counties received $50,000 for a Coal Heritage survey.

The state received $168,000 for Sesquicentennial Highway Historical Markers.

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Tomblin also presented $1,190,241.90 in federal funds for 22 projects across the state as part of the 2012 Recreational Trails Program.

According to the governor’s office, this grant funding came through the Department of  Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and is used for states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail use.

In southern West Virginia, funds were awarded to the Lewisburg and Ronceverte Trail, Greenbrier County, $48,000; Meadow River Trail, Greenbrier and Fayette counties, $80,000; Hatfield-McCoy Indian Ridge Trail System, $40,000; Potts Valley Rail Trail Phase II, Monroe County, $41,760; Gateway Trail and Fork Mt. Trail, Nicholas County, $70,500; Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park, Raleigh County, $80,000; and Hatfield-McCoy Pinnacle Creek Trail System, Wyoming County, $40,000.

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

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