Office of the Governor

Gov. Justice Announces Transportation Alternatives Grant Awards in Raleigh County

10/26/2018

CHARLESTON, WV - Today, Gov. Jim Justice announced the recommendation of six projects that will use grant funding for economic development of abandoned mine land sites.

The grant funding, provided by the federal government through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), is administered by the WVDEP’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands. The recipients applied for the grant funding earlier this year and were each considered by a committee of representatives from the WVDEP, West Virginia Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, and the Governor’s Office.

OSMRE must give final approval of the projects and amounts awarded.

The projects recommended today include:

- McDowell County: $4.115 million to the McDowell Public Service District to provide sewer service to 115 homes in Ashland and Crumpler, and to support expansion of Hatfield-McCoy Trail lodging businesses;
- McDowell County: $2,278,500 to Ashland Resort Tourism Development for the expansion of the existing Hatfield-McCoy Trail amenities such as cabins, ATV facilities, camp store, outdoor entertainment complex, and reclamation of abandoned coal mine features;
- McDowell County: $1 million to the Iaeger Regional Sewer Project, which will provide sewer service to 112 customers and allow for growth of Hatfield-McCoy trail related lodging;
- McDowell County: $238,000 to the McDowell PSD’s Berwind Water Treatment Plant to modernize water treatment and increase capacity for Berwind Lake Park.
- Raleigh County: $4 million for the Cline Complex Phase II YMCA Project for a community recreation and training facility;
- McDowell County: $1.5 million to the Town of Bradshaw for the rehabilitation of the town’s sanitary sewer system.  

Gov. Justice will continue to announce Abandoned Mine Land Grant recommendations over the coming weeks. 
 

Gov. Justice also awarded several Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails program grants. The West Virginia Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program is administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation and funded by the Federal Highway Administration. These grants help towns and cities build and improve sidewalks, lighting, and rail trails. 

The projects awarded include:

- The Access Fund: Fayette County Climbing Access Stabilization and Development is being recommended for $80,000 in federal funding. This is for the design and construction to rehabilitate the Bridge Buttress rock climbing and hiking recreation area with erosion control as well as creating new trails and staging area for hiking, rock climbing and bouldering in Needleseye Park. The total project cost is $100,000.
- Town of Athens: Athens Park Trail is being recommended for $48,126 in federal funding. This is to design and construct a walking trail within the Athens Town Park. The total project cost is $60,157.
- Bluestone River Water Trail Group: Bluestone River Water Trail Group is being recommended for $150,000 in federal funding. This is for the design of a hiking trail with river access along Brush Creek from the community of Gardner to the Bluestone National Scenic River, on to Pipestem State Park and along Camp Creek to Camp Creek State Park all within Mercer County.
- Babcock State Park: Babcock to Sewell Trail Restoration Phase II is being recommended for $225,000 in federal funds. This is for the construction of a rail trail from Babcock to Sewell along the abandoned railroad grade of Manns Creek Railway.
- New River Gorge National River: Bluestone National Scenic River Trail Causeway is being recommended for $10,000 in federal funding. This is to design and construct drainage infrastructure to prevent erosion of the Bluestone National Scenic Trail Causeway between Bluestone and Pipestem State Parks.
- Town of Iaeger: Iaeger Sidewalk Repair and Rehabilitation is being recommended for $132,000 of federal funding. This is for construction of approximately 750 linear feet of sidewalk in the Town of Iaeger.
- City of Oak Hill: Oak Hill East End Pedestrian Upgrade is being recommended for $200,000 of federal funding. This is for the design of approximately two miles of new and replacement sidewalk along Main Street (WV16) in the East End Oak Hill area.
- City of Princeton: Straley Ave & North 8th Street Sidewalk Project is being recommended for $32,000 of federal funding. This is for the design of replacement sidewalk along Straley Avenue and North 8th Street in Princeton. The total cost is $40,000.

Gov. Justice will continue to award more Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program grants over the coming weeks​​

Contact Information

Butch Antolini

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