This bill aims to enhance the management and maintenance of traffic intersections affected by high-impact retail operations in West Virginia. It introduces a new section, 17-3-11, which establishes the Special Retail Impact Intersection Improvement Fund as a subaccount of the State Road Fund. The fund will be dedicated to improving and maintaining traffic intersections that experience increased congestion due to high-impact retail activities, such as shopping malls and grocery stores. The bill outlines the creation of the Retail Impact Intersection Improvement Program, which will be administered by the Division of Highways. It mandates that county supervisors collaborate with county commissions to submit prioritized project requests for intersection improvements, based on traffic counts and urgency.

Additionally, the bill specifies a funding formula for intersection projects, requiring contributions from county commissions, developers, and the special fund. It sets forth guidelines for bidding, contracting, and vendor requirements to ensure efficient use of funds. The Division of Highways is tasked with reporting on the program's progress annually, while the Legislative Auditor will conduct a biennial review to assess the program's effectiveness. Overall, the legislation seeks to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion around high-impact retail sites through targeted infrastructure improvements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-3-11, 17-31-1, 17-31-2, 17-31-3, 17-31-4, 17-31-5