Transportation > WV Parkways Authority > Facts and Information

 Facts and Information 

GENERAL INFORMATION

• The West Virginia Turnpike opened as a two-lane highway in 1954 and cost $133 million to construct.  The Turnpike is now a four-lane Interstate between Charleston and Princeton.
• The West Virginia Parkways Economic Development and Tourism Authority has statutory authority to provide for the construction, development and maintenance of 88 miles of interstate roads that constitute the West Virginia Turnpike.
• Its mission is to operate and maintain the West Virginia Turnpike safely and efficiently.  In April 2007, the Parkways Authority Board adopted a Resolution refocusing the core mission of the Parkways to maintenance and upkeep of the Turnpike.
• The Parkways Authority currently employs approximately 394 full time, part time and temporary employees.
• Performs pavement and bridge maintenance and rehabilitation of the Turnpike’s 415 lane miles of roadway, 18 interchanges and 116 bridges.
• Performs snow removal and ice control during inclement weather along the entire length of the 88 mile Turnpike and the Travel Plazas, Rest Areas and Welcome Center parking lots.
• Provides twelve (12) Variable Message Signs to communicate with motorists about safety and congestion.
• Operates four Toll Plazas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week collecting approximately $57 million in toll annually.
• Administers the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system which allows patrons to pass through toll barriers without stopping by using a vehicle-mounted transponder, provides efficient movement of commercial goods, provides increased levels of customer support, decreases congestion and improves air quality.
• Administers Parkways Authority Commuter (“PAC”) program for high frequency patrons of the West Virginia Turnpike offering discounts of up to 85% for daily commuters and is tax deductible for West Virginia citizens. 
• Funds and supports State Police Troop 7, consisting of up to 31 State Police officers and one Public Service Commission Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector, who provide 24-hour law enforcement on the Turnpike.
• Operates a 24-hour communications system that links State Police, emergency services and wrecker services and ties in the interdepartmental Turnpike toll plazas and maintenance departments.
• Operates a 16-hour (3 pm-7am), 7-day a week internal Courtesy patrol/Motorist Assist Program that covers the entire length of the Turnpike and operates in coordination with Troop 7 patrol units.
• On November 8, 2009, the West Virginia Turnpike marked its 55th anniversary.
•  CLICK HERE TO VIEW AN OVERVIEW PRESENTATION (.PDF FORMAT) OF THE PARKWAYS AUTHORITY.

FINANCIAL AND TOLL INFORMATION

• The West Virginia Turnpike receives no funding from the State of West Virginia or the Federal Government.  This relieves the Division of Highways from the responsibility of maintaining the West Virginia Turnpike and permits them to spend their funds on other beneficial highway construction and maintenance projects that would have otherwise been required for Parkways operation.
• During Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2009 the Toll Department collected $53.3 million in toll revenues.
• The average daily toll revenue was $146,000.
• Fiscal Year 2009 costs for operation and maintenance of the Turnpike were in excess of approximately $30.9 million and include costs for personnel, snow removal and ice control, toll collection, motor vehicles and fuel, State Police, operations, insurance costs and equipment costs – an amount that has remained relatively stable over the last few years despite unprecedented escalations in the price for commodities and services.  This was accomplished through the implementation of productivity increases and other improved efficiencies.
• A total of 33.6 million toll transactions were processed during Fiscal Year 2009.
• On an average day, there are 92,000 toll transactions.
• 76% of toll revenues come from out-of-state passenger and commercial vehicles (per November 2005 Wilbur Smith traffic study).
• Commercial traffic accounts for 50% of toll revenues.
• Average daily transaction level is approximately 92,000 per day (77% are privately owned vehicles and 23% are commercial vehicles).
• 16% of toll revenues come from WV passenger cars and 8% from WV commercial vehicles (per November 2005 Wilbur Smith traffic study).
• On, July 1, 2009, the first across-the-board toll increase on the West Virginia Turnpike in 28 years became effective.
• CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PARKWAYS AUTHORITY’S COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2009 (.PDF FORMAT).

• The West Virginia Turnpike is a $1 billion asset in the roadway, bridges and facilities.
• The Turnpike has over 300,000 square feet of facilities valued at $75 million.
• Pavement (consisting of 88 miles) is the most costly piece of the infrastructure.
• Pavement roughness/smoothness index is the industry standard used to measure the condition of the road.
• • The Federal Highway Administration requires all State highway departments to report annually on the condition of interstate highways (2006 was the last report).
  • In 2006, 28% of the nation’s highways were below the target value “roughness index” of 95.  For West Virginia, 27% of the interstates are in substandard condition.  Breaking out the Turnpike from this data, 36% of the Turnpike’s 88 miles are in substandard condition.
• The Turnpike has a Maintenance Management System (MMS) in place to measure condition levels of all assets.
  • This asset management system, a comprehensive approach to maintaining transportation assets, is performance based rather than task oriented.  Performance requirements are established and maintenance tasks are performed as needed to meet those requirements.
  • Pavement standards for asphalt and concrete have target values for performance of the assets.  Concrete pavements are in poor condition, especially in the Beckley area, near Barrier “A” and Mahan. 
    • Once concrete pavements begin to shift, slabs vibrate and this accelerates the deterioration process.
  • Bridges are in good condition, mostly due to preventive maintenance such as bridge washing and through contracts for bridge painting and retrofitting.
    • Spalling is starting to occur in the bridge decks.
    • Average age of the Turnpike’s 116 bridges is 28.6 years.  98% of the bridges are older than 25 years.  Two major bridges are over 50 years old. 
    • All of the Turnpike’s bridge decks are at the end of their anticipated life.  No Turnpike bridge decks have been replaced, although some have had thin layers or skid resistance surface applied.  
• Guardrails on the Turnpike are in need of major repairs.
• In order to maintain the Turnpike at a certain performance level and a level of service that should be given to the public, $238 million is needed over the next five years in capital and renewal and replacement needs.
• In addition to the $178 million shortfall for renewal and replacement and paving projects, there are also facilities capital needs such as the Bluestone sewage treatment plant, Rest Area 69 water treatment plant, salt buildings, etc. at a cost over the next five years of $6.3 million. 

TAMARACK – “The Best of West Virginia”  INFORMATION

• Tamarack has been in operation since 1996 and showcases the work of West Virginia juried artisans, writers, food producers, performers and visual artists.
• Tamarack creates economic development opportunities for cottage industries throughout West Virginia.
• Tamarack retains, expands and creates jobs for West Virginians and enhances the State’s overall image and tourism.
• Tamarack enhanced its services in 2003 with the addition of a new conference center – adding over $1 million in sales to Tamarack’s gross revenues.
• Tamarack’s public-private partnership for management oversight by The Greenbrier has contributed to the success of food service.
• In its first 12 years of business, Tamarack has hosted more than 5.6 million visitors generated $86.5 million in sales revenue (includes $8.7 million in sales at the Turnpike Travel Plaza Tourist Information Centers), collected $4.5 million in consumers’ sales tax for West Virginia and has represented over 3,400 West Virginia artisans.
• Tamarack directly employs 149 people – 85 are full-time staff.
• Since 1996, hotels, motels and restaurants have proliferated at Exit 44 and appear to be thriving.
• Concession revenues from the Turnpike’s food and fuel sales at the Travel Plazas are pledged to the payment of debt service, in addition to other revenue sources from investments and Tamarack operations.
• No toll revenues were used to construct Tamarack; nor are toll revenues used in the operation of Tamarack.
• The Tamarack Foundation is a huge asset in developing the creative community through the breadth of programs offered for all stages of business development.
• In April 2007, the Parkways Authority Board passed a Resolution refocusing the mission of the West Virginia Parkways Authority to “provide all cooperation and planning necessary to lay the groundwork for the transfer of Tamarack operations to the Department of Commerce and cooperation with that Department to develop an improved business plan for Tamarack”.  The Authority is currently in discussions with the Department of Commerce to accomplish this transfer.   

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE TURNPIKE ON SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA[1]

• The Turnpike opened Southern West Virginia to both east-west and north-south vehicle traffic, allowing the region to take advantage of significant interstate commerce opportunities.
• Raleigh County recorded the fastest rate of job growth in the Beckley-Bluefield region during the 1990-1998 period, growing more than twice as fast as the state.  The regional share in trade and government jobs was above both the state and national averages in 1998, reflecting the region’s extensive highway infrastructure.
• The City of Beckley and Raleigh County have benefited from easy access provided by the road transportation system.  Raleigh County is a regional hub for shopping and services in Southern West Virginia.  The City and County have benefited from growth in the retail sector and hospitality industry, as well as manufacturing and housing.  Further, recent locations of Magic Mart, Kohl’s, Sam’s Club, Klockner Pentaplast of America and Excel Homes, as well as expansion of Lowe’s and Wal-Mart demonstrate growth.  Telespectrum in Beckley has committed to maintain at least 200 full-time jobs at its Grey Flats Road facility through July 2011.
• Retail development has been stimulated by easy access to the Turnpike, evidenced by the new Lowe’s and Super Wal-Mart at the Princeton interchange.
• The Turnpike corridor from Charleston to Beckley to Princeton has seen considerable economic growth in the past decades.  The Turnpike improved access to Concord University in Athens and Mountain State University in Beckley; both have increased enrollment and enhanced educational opportunities in the corridor.
• The Turnpike most directly impacts counties with a physical connection to the Turnpike:  Raleigh, Mercer and Fayette Counties.  When compared to the other southern counties, these three have fared better in terms of population retention, increases in per capita income, workforce size, unemployment rates and retail sales.
• For a 15-year period from 1990 to 2005, the aggregate population in the counties that are not adjacent to the Turnpike declined by 11.1%; however, Raleigh, Mercer and Fayette Counties declined by only 1.1% in this period.
• The per capita income for these three counties grew by an average of 15.8% from 1994 to 2004 while per capita income of the other southern counties grew by an average of 14.2%.
• On an absolute basis, per capita income in the Turnpike counties is $3,029 higher – a difference of more than 14.0% - than per capita income in the other southern counties.
• Based upon the 2004 per capita figures and the 2005 population information, the Turnpike counties contain 45.3% of the 12-county region’s population, but generate 48.5% of aggregate income.
• The Turnpike counties have the three largest workforces in the region, representing 47.7% of the workforce, while having 45.3% of the population.
• From 1990 to 2005, the Turnpike counties workforce grew by 0.7%, while the other southern counties’ workforce declined by 4.1%.
• Mercer and Raleigh Counties had the lowest 2005 unemployment rates of the southern 12-county region.
• Retail sales for the Turnpike counties have been strong, with Raleigh and Mercer Counties ranking first and second in 2005 sales.  Fayette County – with 10.5% of total 2005 retail sales – was well above the 5.3% median for the 12-county region.
• The Turnpike counties generated a majority of retail sales in the 12-county region, with 54.7% of the 2005 total.
• Fayette County’s retail sales growth rate from 2000 to 2005 was the strongest in the region at 29.3%.