State Route 35

Dear ____________________,

I am writing to you regarding the situation surrounding Route 35 and the proposed toll road currently under consideration by the state of West Virginia. I recently attended a meeting in which a member of Governor Manchin’s advisory committee on this subject, a Mr. Lanham told us that at this time, there was no money for this project and the only option to complete this road was to sell bonds and pay for them by placing a toll on this road.

I do not understand why this funding was not included in the original American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as the total to complete the project was less then 3/10ths of one percent of total stimulus spending.

When we as tax paying citizens have ask this question, we were originally told that the project was not shovel ready despite ongoing construction. And then at the meeting last week, we were told that it was because West Virginia only received a certain amount of stimulus money for infrastructure and this project would have consumed the majority of that spending. As you are aware, the Stimulus Act required 3 Republican votes on cloture to allow the bill to progress.

While I realize the role of the Senate is to look out for the interest of the nation, they sill hold responsibility to the constituents who elected them and had either Senator Byrd or yourself demanded this project be included in that bill or threatened to withhold your vote on cloture, it would have been included in the stimulus bill.

I then ask why this project would not be covered under the current stimulus being proposed by the Obama Administration and was told that it could not be considered because this stimulus was for repair and did not include new construction.

To me, this makes no sense. We as a nation are facing a debt that will soon exceed our GNP, spending over the past 5 years has tripled yet we as citizens are being told that there is no money available for this project.

As you are well aware, while Route 35 is a local two lane highway in Putnam and Mason Counties, it is also a segment of a primary transportation route connecting the southeast with the Midwest and as a result, the majority of the traffic on this road is out of state logistical traffic. As such, I cannot imagine why the federal government cannot take more of a role in funding this road.

Can you please explain to me what your position is on this road and what you are doing in Washington to possibly obtain funding for this road?

Sincerely,



Aaron Staats