Community Project Funding
The following projects were submitted to the appropriate Appropriations Subcommittee for FY26 Community Project Funding:
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Project Name: WVU Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) Guideway Rehabilitation
BILL: THUD
Requestor: WVU Research Corporation
Funding Requested: $6,400,000
Description: This request is to restore the guideway between Walnut Station and Engineering Station to a state of good repair, in compliance with Federal Transit Administration requirements. This project will involve structural rehabilitation, including concrete spall repairs, cleaning the guideway's underside, and conducting necessary steel repairs to ensure the system remains safe and operational. The PRT is a vital piece of Morgantown's transportation network. It transports an average of 12,000 passengers per day when the university is in session, and this project ensures its safety and reliability.
Project Name: Market Street Bridge Replacement
BILL: THUD
Requestor: West Virginia Division of Highways
Funding Requested: $1,800,000
Description: This request funds the initial engineering for the full replacement of the Market Street Bridge which carries WV Spur Route 2 across the Ohio River, Ohio Route 7, and Norfolk Southern Railroad. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the bridge has been closed for over a year due to unsafe conditions including corrosion and deterioration. The closure has resulted in traffic delays, negative economic impacts on local businesses, and travel challenges for residents and commuters. This project is an early step in helping alleviate those significant disruptions to taxpayers’ lives.
Project Name: Marshall University Aviation – Martinsburg Expansion
BILL: THUD
Requestor: Marshall University
Funding Requested: $900,000
Description: This request expands the facilities for Marshall University Aviation's in-person training in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The construction of this training facility will allow for pilot training, as well as dispatcher and UAS training for those in degree seeking programs as well as those in the aviation industry. The facility will also support stand-alone courses or industry training as requested by local industry. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as the facility supports workforce growth in the aviation industry - an industry currently facing worker shortages in pilots and maintenance technicians. This project has a clear economic development benefit as it helps fill current and estimated gaps in the workforce by preparing area residents for gainful employment in the field of aviation.
Project Name: Watson Fire Station Renovation
BILL: THUD
Requestor: City of Fairmont
Funding Requested: $3,500,000
Description: This request funds the reconstruction of the aging Watson Fire Station. It is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it supports the reconstruction of a facility that directly enhances emergency response capabilities. The project will ensure continued access to essential fire protection and emergency services for the Watson neighborhood, Fairmont State University, the Fairmont Technology Park, and surrounding areas.
Project Name: Spencer’s Landing Development
BILL: THUD
Requestor: Wood County Development Authority
Funding Requested: $6,000,000
Description: This request funds the rehabilitation of the former Johns Manville insulation plant, which currently poses several safety risks to the community and must be surrounded year-round by a fence. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it cleans the site (including the removal of dangerous concrete and rebar) and prepares it for future economic and recreational development for use by the public. This includes plans for ADA accessible areas, restrooms, food truck hookups, shelters, and other opportunities for economic growth.
Project Name: Parkersburg Municipal Services Central Garage Facility Modernization
BILL: THUD
Requestor: City of Parkersburg
Funding Requested: $4,000,000
Description: Parkersburg’s Central Garage currently houses several essential municipal operations including the City’s Streets Department, Street Cleaning Division, Electric Shop, and Sign Shop. The 55-year-old facility has significantly deteriorated and is undersized for the City’s current equipment inventory. This project includes the demolition of the existing structure and reconstruction on the site. This new building will better serve modern public works needs and improve efficiency to better deliver essential services to the residents of Parkersburg.
Project Name: Northern Parkway Improvements
BILL: THUD
Requestor: City of Wheeling
Funding Requested: $3,400,000
Description: The purpose of this project is to completely reconstruct an essential connector between Main Street and several residential neighborhoods. Families, school buses, emergency vehicles, and local commuters use the route daily. The continued deterioration of this corridor poses a serious threat to mobility, emergency response, and quality of life. Rebuilding this roadway is critical to restoring safe and dependable transportation access for Wheeling residents.
Project Name: WVDOH District 4 City/Off-System Bridge Rehabilitation
BILL: THUD
Requestor: West Virginia Division of Highways
Funding Requested: $10,000,000
Description: This request funds the construction and rehabilitation of five bridges in Clarksburg that are owned and maintained by the city. Clarksburg has sought funding through WVDOH for the construction/rehabilitation of these bridges to maintain the city and state road networks. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it improves critical infrastructure within the city limits.
Project Name: Wheeling Gateway Center & Trail Connection
BILL: THUD
Requestor: City of Wheeling
Funding Requested: $2,000,000
Description: This request is for the initial costs of the Wheeling Gateway Center, a project that will house the Convention & Visitors Bureau, a WV Tourism outpost, and a heritage center. It includes public outdoor spaces and plazas, as well as a dedicated pedestrian and bicycle connection to the 18-mile Wheeling Heritage Trail. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it supports safe, active travel, drives economic growth, and connects residents and visitors to the city’s cultural and recreational assets.
Project Name: Phase 3B Lead Line Replacement
BILL: Interior
Requestor: Clarksburg Water Board
Funding Requested: $3,000,000
Description: This request funds removal of lead lines and necessary improvements throughout Clarksburg. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it is necessary for the Clarksburg Water Board to be able to provide safe, reliable water to more than ten thousand customers as well as several outlying public service districts.
Project Name: Blackwater PSD Regional Sewer System
BILL: Interior
Requestor: Tucker County Commission
Funding Requested: $8,000,000
Description: This request funds the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that combines the Town of Davis WWTP and City of Thomas WWTP. Those plants are currently under a strain that has resulted in overloaded capacity. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it address public health and environmental concerns in the present and the future.
Project Name: City of Weston Corridor H Sewer Improvements
BILL: Interior
Requestor: City of Weston
Funding Requested: $9,600,000
Description: This request funds the installation of public sewer service along Corridor H between Weston and Buckhannon. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it addresses wastewater needs for current residents while encouraging the economic and industrial development opportunities promised by Corridor H’s completion.
Project Name: Bonds Creek Waterline Extension Project
BILL: Interior
Requestor: City of Pennsboro
Funding Requested: $1,000,000
Description: This request funds the extension of a water line along Bonds Creek. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it addresses serious water quality issues that include lead and arsenic in the drinking water. The project is part of a larger effort to improve and extend water service in Ritchie County.
Project Name: Kingwood Senior Center
BILL: AG
Requestor: Preston County Senior Citizens, Inc.
Funding Requested: $712,500
Description: This request funds the purchase of a new building for the Kingwood Senior Center. This project represents a responsible and impactful use of taxpayer funds, directly benefiting the senior population of Preston County. The project ensures the continued delivery and expansion of essential services for seniors, improving their quality of life while maximizing the efficiency of public resources.
Project Name: Construction of Barbour County Ambulance Authority
BILL: AG
Requestor: Barbour County Commission
Funding Requested: $2,225,000
Description: This request funds the construction of a new Barbour County Ambulance Authority building. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it creates hub for county EMS to have a central location to restock and rest, a community training center where the public can take first aid/CPR courses, and emergency shelter for the public, and a point of distribution in emergency situations.