Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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December 24, 2012

Turnpike tolls must be gone by 2019

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

I would like to respond to the front page article written in the Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, Daily Telegraph titled, “Seaver Champions I-77 Tolls.”

 I do not agree with my friend Bill Seaver and his statements about the tolls on I-77.

The real tragedy of the tolls occurred many, many years ago when the politicians in Charleston “renewed” the bonds and took the new money and spent it on other projects around the state, leaving us to pay for those projects.

West Virginia has six years left before the bonds are paid off, time to come up with an answer to address the problem instead of going for the “quick fix.” — again at our expense.

As for the Turnpike Authority taking a beating from the Republicans every time they turn around, I believe you will find as many Democrats, like me, as there are Republicans who are against these tolls. I dare say there are more Democrats outraged by this travesty placed our citizens.

I realize that by keeping the tolls on I-77 the Turnpike Authority self perpetuates its own existence, but when 2019 comes it is time for the tolls to end!

The arrogance of the statement by authority member Cameron Lewis that, “One of the alternatives is to put Mercer County into Virginia. That takes care of that,” only supports the feelings of many West Virginians living in McDowell, Wyoming, Monroe and Mercer counties that feel that those living in Raleigh County think the state borderline ends there.

Roger Topping

Princeton

Democrat and proud citizen of Mercer County   

 

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