MORGANTOWN – Just as they were in 2025, and 2024, and 2023, and an untold number of years dating back at least two decades – according to The Dominion Post archive – roads continue to be a top legislative priority for the city of Morgantown.
The city made its case once again this week as representatives from Morgantown City Council and the city’s administration sat down with state representatives ahead of the upcoming session of the West Virginia Legislature.
“Many of our main corridors are state roads, and several of our roads are rated in poor or mediocre conditions,” City Manager Jamie Miller said. “Whether we look at programs like a pilot program where we can partner to take on more of those maintenance responsibilities, given appropriate funding sources, or if we look at state ownership transitioning to the city on some identified roads, we want to continue to engage in that.”
The Tuesday evening meeting came as the area was emerging from last weekend’s winter storm, and that was reflected in the discussion.
It was noted that the current West Virginia Division of Highways pilot program allowing private contractors to assist with snow and ice removal doesn’t reach into the city.
“It stopped snowing on Sunday, but we still have some pretty difficult roads to pass. Any of the center turn lanes are still covered in snow, and these are major routes for school and to hospitals and places of business,” Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli said. “I don’t believe that was publicly advertised, so the city wasn’t able to essentially apply as a contractor to go after that. Right now, our only response has been the DOH will provide us salt if we want to plow their roads. A lot of other states will set a rate – you’ll get this many cents or this many dollars per lane mile. That funding is there because costs go beyond just the material for salt or patching, cutting grass. There are staff costs, equipment costs.”
To that end, the city is asking the legislature to look at a model utilized in neighboring states.
“Pennsylvania is a particular model that we are familiar with through some of our staff’s work with those programs … where unexpended funds that are available in the district office could be transferred to the city under these local maintenance agreements, either at set rates based on the expected cost of maintenance with a cap or some other measure to provide the local resources we have, which really seems to be staff that are regularly on the roads every day,” attorney Ryan Simonton said. “I think that’s one of the things the city’s asking for exploration and support on here.”
While the issue of road maintenance is first and foremost a safety issue, Delegate Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, said it also becomes an economic issue given the county abuts the Pennsylvania state line.
“It’s a bigger issue than what we’re giving it. People are opting to work in Pennsylvania. They’re not driving the hour because they’re making that difference, literally at the state line. The roads are different,” she said, adding, “I know constituents feel like schools are being called off so that the roads don’t have to be cleared, which then affects people being able to go to work. So, this now becomes the feeling of our residents, and it’s growing.”
While Councilor Louise Michael was one of several participants to praise the efforts of Earl Gaskins since taking over leadership of DOH District 4, she said she doesn’t believe the district is receiving the proper support compared to other parts of the state.
“Patteson, University, the Boulevard, 705 – there was no excuse for those roads to be like they were on Monday afternoon,” she said. “Why is it happening? This is year after year after year.”
Delegate Joe Statler, R-Monongalia, commended the efforts of the DOH in dealing with the combination of heavy, wet snow and extremely cold temperatures, but said he believes there is progress that can be made.
“I don’t think this is rocket science that we can’t come up with a solution, because we can’t keep being paralyzed over two or three inches of snow,” he said. “Other states, Michigan, Minnesota and those places, they would laugh at us and the problems we’re having.”
