Obama budget eliminates Corridor H funds
Staff and Wire ReportsFact Box
"I think it is an absolute mistake, we need it for the prosperity of this part of the state. We are not totally surprised but amazed that something like this could happen."
Delegate Bill Hartman
The Obama administration says $10 million earmarked this year for work on Corridor H should be eliminated because it duplicates other federal highway funding. The announcement doesn't sit well with Delegate Bill Hartman, D-37th District, who emphasized this morning that the road is important for West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
"I am absolutely opposed to the cut," Hartman told The Inter-Mountain. "We anticipated this was going to happen and we are going to activate the Coalition for Corridor H to fight for completion of the road."
Hartman said the Coalition formed in 1988 to push the completion of Corridor H between Buckhannon and Elkins. The group of concerned community leaders from six counties has not had to be active in recent years.
"There is local support for the road, but with the economy the way it is, now the road is even more important," Hartman said.
According to a supplement to Obama's 2010 budget released Thursday, the funding is above West Virginia's allocation through the federal highway formula. The supplement says formula funding could be used for Corridor H.
"I think it is an absolute mistake, we need it for the prosperity of this part of the state," Hartman said. "We are not totally surprised but amazed that something like this could happen."
The state has been working on the 133-mile four-lane highway for more than 20 years. When finished, Corridor H will connect Interstate 79 near Weston to the Virginia line.
Hartman said there has been a lot of talk over the years of how Corridor H would be an important evacuation route for the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas if something catastrophic were to happen. He said the current roads would create bottlenecks and make evacuation difficult.
U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd says he won't give up efforts to secure funding to complete the highway.
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audyhaze
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05-08-09 7:04 PM
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Again, if they violate the law, put them in with the rest of the incarcerated. One thing you don't seem to understand. Laws are made to obey not break and if you do you pay the time or the crime. I think your off your thinking. I have lived in Huttonsville all my life and I have yet see any prisoner family do anything what that was illegal or wrong. In 65 years I have heard of only one that supplied drugs to someone and they got arrested., matter of fact they all got arrested (whole family). Its the people who hide behind the keyboard and backbite (gossip) that hurts us all. If you allow jobs in you won't have time to gossip and backbite or talk about everything. Also, if you ever want to have anything in your life that amounts to anything, you should support opening up the roads to allow good things. Let the law enforcement rid the bad..they will!
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trustme
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05-08-09 3:28 PM
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Puremagix might have a point, but we are just getting a dose of what Cumberland ,Md. gets with its prison system in place at Cresaptown, Md. The Famlies follow the criminals to where they are doing time. And more of a bad element creeps in.!!!
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audyhaze
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05-08-09 3:26 PM
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If Corridore "H" funding is eliminated you will see Randolph County and Wv hurt more than the recession! If we have good roads (4-lanes) both Rt 33 and Rt 250/219, coming into the center of Randolph Co., you will see more jobs, better life styles and better living. As for crime, the police (State,County and Local) will take care of that! If we have a society that "harbors" druggies, thiefs, crooks and the like well we also need to rid ourselves of them also. Decent West Virginians are lawbiding and we never have any problems. Its only the past few years all the holler hoots and likes like to drink, fight and use drugs. Sen Byrd is an old Senator but I doubt if he is dead yet.
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Puremagix
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05-08-09 2:55 PM
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The only smart thing Obama has done yet. We don't need a road that brings in more crime into our towns. We're already picking up all the felons in this state coming here to hide out.
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trustme
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05-08-09 2:54 PM
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I am not sure any amount of clout will be enough. You see alot of people are putting their faith in one man, Obama!!. My bible tells me to put my trust and faith in no man. But to stand on the rock which will sustain me.
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Bearsden
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05-08-09 2:40 PM
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Guess we'll see if Sen. Byrd's clout is still there.
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