MORGANTOWN – As part of its most recent update to the area’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board removed improvements to the five-legged intersection of Point Marion, Stewartstown, Canyon and Farm View roads from its Tier 1 priority list.
But that’s not to say the intersection isn’t a priority.
Instead, MPO Executive Director Bill Austin explained, the MPO will look to use suballocated funds to help expedite the work.
Austin said the intersection, composed of a busy crossroads (Point Marion and Stewartstown roads) complicated by the proximity of an offset access point for large housing developments (Farm View Road), “is really a failing intersection at both the morning and afternoon peak periods.”
The MPO notes movement through the intersection is hampered by a number of factors, most notably the fact that Farm View Road approaches Point Marion Road near, but not at, the existing traffic signals, leading to driver confusion regarding right-of-way. Further, billboards and street clutter, a lack of pedestrian infrastructure and overly wide driveways and business access points near the intersection add confusion and increase the potential for conflicts.
“Our most recent observations have indicated that the situation has worsened significantly since the last time we looked at it,” Austin said.
According to information previously included in the MTP, there are two prevailing options for improving the situation.
The first would realign Farm View Road to intersect with Stewartstown Road across from Cathy Drive.
The second would keep all five approaches as they’re currently situated and replace the intersection with a 120-foot single-lane roundabout.
Both options would also include the installation of curbs and gutters, new sidewalks, street trees, high-visibility crosswalks and pedestrian countdown signals, cross access between adjacent businesses and the closure of the automotive service center driveway closest to the intersection.
Planning and design for the project has been estimated in the $2.5 million to $4 million range, though Austin said those numbers may need revisited.
For its end, the policy board agreed to steer a to-be-determined amount of its suballocated funding to help promote the project.
While the money does come with some restrictions in terms of use, suballocated funds are largely discretionary dollars provided to the MPO through the Surface Transportation Block Grant and Carbon Reduction Program.
Annually, the MPO receives about $400,000 through the Carbon Reduction Program and about $470,000 from the Surface Transportation Block Grant. Between the two, the MPO currently has a balance of about $3 million.
Austin said exactly how much of that money is utilized for this project will require further discussion with the West Virginia Division of Highways and the Federal Highway Administration.
“Since the policy board approved the use of those funds for the project, we will be asking WVDOH to program the funds for the project, most likely in fiscal year 2026-’27. The project schedule for implementation will be worked out with WVDOH at that time,” he said.
