| Highway paving schedules appear to be several years behind in the Mountain State, while other major projects and bridge repairs languish.
The state is seeking stimulus money for over $2 billion in 'shovel ready' projects, few of which are located in central West Virginia.
West Virginia's Road Fund is in need of some serious funding, says Senate Finance Committee Chairman Walt Helmick.
Helmick says he doesn't anticipate a gas tax increase this legislative session because of the pending federal economic stimulus package.
"I can't see how a situation would develop that we would be moving forward until we know what's happening with the stimulus package," he said.
The Road Fund pays for state highway maintenance projects and is mainly funded by the state gasoline tax and the privilege tax on new vehicle purchases.
The fund has been stagnant in recent years.
High gasoline prices haven't helped. The Federal Highway Administration says 3.2 percent fewer miles were driven in West Virginia in October 2008 compared to the year before.
WVU Professor Tom Witt told state lawmakers Monday they could do one of a number of things to increase Road Fund revenues including increasing the gas tax, raising vehicle registration fees and increasing the privilege tax to six percent.
"You obviously can't make a move on any tax increase because of the stimulus package and because of the economy. People can't afford it," Helmick responded.
Helmick says Governor Joe Manchin and state lawmakers made a major mistake the last two years by not allowing an automatic gas tax increase to take effect. He says that decision cost the Road Fund $160 million.
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