×

BHJ tracks truck traffic

LOOKING AHEAD — Members of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission discussed upcoming projects during Wednesday’s meeting. Among the many attendees were, from left, Wellsburg City Manager Steve Maguschak; BHJ Executive Director Mike Paprocki; Jefferson County Commissioner Tom Graham, who is the commission’s chair; and Adrienne Ward, BHJ office manager. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission is measuring truck traffic from the oil and gas industry to help prioritize heavily traveled roads for improvements.

At Wednesday’s BHJ meeting, Cody Cresap, BHJ transportation engineer, reported traffic counts are being collected on Jefferson County roads where injection wells or well pads are within a 10-mile radius.

Mike Paprocki, BHJ executive director, said the work is part of a two-year study funded with about $5 million secured by state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, for seven Eastern Ohio counties where natural gas activity is prevalent.

He said the intention is to use a portion of revenue from the state’s oil and gas severance tax to repair affected roads not covered by road user management agreements.

Entered into by local governments and private energy developers, RUMAs hold the companies responsible for the cost to maintain and repair roads used almost exclusively by trucks involved in extracting energy.

But there are many others that also see heavy use from such activity, Paprocki said.

He cited as examples county Road 7B, which connects state Route 7 and Commercial Avenue in Mingo Junction; and Public Road in Yorkville, which has received ruts from heavy trucks.

Cresap said there’s also a steady flow of traffic from well sites through Richmond.

Also on Wednesday, Paprocki said the Ohio Department of Transportation is in the process of accepting applications for about $27 million in matching funds for port-related development along the Ohio River.

Paprocki said the funds could be used for engineering fees, property acquisition and other expenses related to proposed riverfront development but the applicants must submit a business plan and meet other criteria.

He also announced representatives of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit group working to establish a nationwide trail system, will discuss efforts to link trails from Cleveland to Pittsburgh with local officials at the Fort Steuben Visitors Center on March 18.

Paprocki said the trail could run through Weirton, among other areas.

In other business, the commission agreed to alter its bylaws to allow officers on its executive board to serve two years instead of one.

BHJ member Tom Timmons said the move is intended to ensure more continuity from year to year.

As a result, the commission retained the following officers from last year: Jefferson County Commissioner Tom Graham, chairman; Hancock County Commissioner Joe Barnabei, vice chairman; Evan Scurti, incentives manager of the Jefferson County Port Authority, secretary; and Brooke County Commissioner A.J. Thomas, treasurer.

Paprocki noted chairmanship of the commission is rotated among the three counties.

Mike Witherow, the West Virginia Division of Highway’s liaison to BHJ, also reported on several projects.

Witherow said crews will be building a retaining wall to address two slips along Washington School Road in Hancock County while others work to complete the bridge off the Harmon Creek exit of U.S. Route 22. He said the latter project is scheduled for completion in June.

Witherow said a contract is expected to be awarded in March for repairs to sections of U.S. Route 22 between the Harmon Creek exit and the Pennsylvania state line while a field review of the intersection of state Routes 2 and 27 in Wellsburg is set for the same month. He said plans call for an engineer to be hired to plan the widening of the intersection to accommodate large trucks.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today