CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Despite low voter turnout, West Virginians who voted Saturday approved the road bond referendum, approving the sale of up to $1.6 billion in state bonds to improve state roads.
As of press time and with only 93 percent of precincts reporting, 113,442 of about 1.2 million registered voters turned out for the special election, with 82,307 voting in favor of the Roads to Prosperity plan and 31,442 voting against, according to unofficial results.
Cabell County voted in favor of the measure as of press time. With 75 percent of precincts reporting, 2,454 voted in favor and 684 voted against. It was much closer in Wayne County, with 1,296 voting in favor and 911 against, with 40 percent of precincts reporting.
As of press time, some counties had all precincts reporting. In Logan County, 867 voted in favor and 500 voted against; Putnam County had 3,769 for and 851 against; Lincoln had 590 for and 344 against; Mingo County had 689 for and 347 against; Boone County had 996 for and 404 against; and Wyoming County had 1,196 for and 208 against.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said this is the most historic vote in the state’s history.
“(The people of West Virginia) have spoken, and they’ve spoken loudly, Justice said Saturday night in his chambers. They’ve spoken that they want jobs and they want opportunities and they want change. They want hope. Justice said the vote is just the start. It’s time we all pull the rope together and move forward,” he said.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said in a release he was thrilled those who chose to vote on the issue put the greater good of the state first.
“With the passage of this amendment, we have taken a tremendous step in moving West Virginia forward, the statement reads. Soon, our state will see more jobs and better roads, and most importantly, we will see these benefits without any additional taxation of our citizens.”
The approved plan will allow for the sale of up to $1.6 billion in state bonds over the next four years. The bonds will fund major highway projects, including the expansion of Interstate 64 from Huntington to Charleston.
Legislature-approved raises to the gasoline tax, Division of Motor Vehicles fees and turnpike fees are already in effect, and work has already begun on smaller projects, such as repaving two-lane roads across the state.
Of the approved and candidate projects across the state, 34 are in Cabell County. Seven of the 34 projects are already approved for construction. Among them are repairs to Interstate 64 from Milton to U.S. 35 in Putnam County, repaving W.Va. 2 from Millersport to Green Bottom, and resurfacing/repaving rural roads like Little Fudges Creek Road, McComas Road and Irving Road.
Big projects that have regional impacts include widening I-64 from Huntington to Charleston, plus a new Nitro-St. Albans bridge and widening the turnpike. The plan is predicted to create 48,000 immediate jobs, according to a study done by Duke University.
Justice said they will attempt to fill those open positions with as many West Virginians as possible, and a special session most likely will be called to pass legislation to ensure that. The last road bond referendum vote was in 2005, with just over 160,000 votes cast.
As of press time, the state was on course to meet that turnout or be a little lower. Secretary of State Mac Warner said Saturday night the day went smoothly, with just a few road bumps, such as poll workers not showing up.
He said the process worked for those who came out to vote, and that’s what it is all about for his office.
Follow reporter Taylor Stuck on Twitter and Facebook @TaylorStuckHD.
