The proposed bill aims to establish the "West Virginia Rural Mobility and Transportation Access Act," which seeks to enhance transportation access in rural areas of West Virginia. It includes legislative findings that highlight the challenges faced by rural communities, such as geographical isolation and limited transportation options. The bill outlines a state policy that prioritizes the use of federal and private funds, encourages innovative service delivery, and promotes coordination among various service providers without the state directly operating transportation services.

To facilitate these goals, the bill creates the Rural Mobility Grant and Innovation Program, which will be administered by the Division of Highways or another designated agency. This program will provide funding from various sources, including federal funds, state appropriations, and private grants, to support eligible providers in offering demand-response and micro transit services. The bill also emphasizes the importance of public input in grant applications, mandates annual reporting on program outcomes, and grants rulemaking authority to the administering agency to ensure effective implementation of the act.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-31-1, 17-31-2, 17-31-3, 17-31-4, 17-31-5, 17-31-6, 17-31-7, 17-31-8, 17-31-9, 17-31-10, 17-31-11