Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House would transfer funds to West Virginia from states that are not spending their related funds.
West Virginia would be permitted to use the funds in return for unrestricted Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act transportation grant funds.
The Advancing Infrastructure Development in Appalachia Act is designed to help alleviate the state’s nearly $800 million deficient in transportation funding. The state could use the funding for any transportation project and, instead of a 90-10 funding match, would receive a 100 percent match.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Alex X. Mooney (R-WV) and cosponsored by Reps. David McKinley (R-WV), Carol Miller (R-WV), and David Trone (D-MD).
“Finishing the final stretch of Corridor H is a top priority, and I am optimistic that this innovative and bipartisan approach will provide the necessary funding to get it built,” Mooney said. “This bill is a real win-win situation for West Virginia and other states that no longer have a use for their Appalachian highway funding but whom have other transportation infrastructure needs. I am very pleased to be part of a solution to ensure West Virginia gets access to more transportation funding.”
In July, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.