The bill establishes the Neighborhood Access Road Program in West Virginia, aimed at improving public roadway access to residential neighborhoods, particularly in rural areas. It is designed to facilitate the reconstruction and enhancement of public access roads serving eligible neighborhoods and subdivisions, while explicitly avoiding state responsibility for internal subdivision infrastructure or private roads. The program will be administered by the West Virginia Division of Highways and will operate only with available funds, which will be allocated from a newly created special revenue account known as the Neighborhood Access Road Fund.

The bill outlines specific criteria for funding eligibility, including a minimum threshold of 20 residential units, and prohibits the use of funds for private roads, driveways, or routine maintenance unrelated to residential access needs. Additionally, it sets a funding cap of $750,000 per project per fiscal year and mandates annual reporting to ensure oversight and accountability. The program is set to terminate three years after its effective date unless reauthorized by the Legislature, with any remaining funds reverting to the State Road Fund upon termination.

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
Committee Substitute: 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
Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 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
Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 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
Enrolled 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