West Virginia Code 17-28-8 – Commissioner’s authority over transportation projects accepted into the state road system; use of state road funds
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this article to the contrary, the commissioner has final approval of any transportation project. However, no state road funds may be used, singly or together with funds from any other source, for any purpose or in any manner contrary to or prohibited by the constitution and laws of this state or the federal government or where such use, in the sole discretion of the commissioner, would jeopardize receipt of federal funds.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 17-28-8
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Highways who is the chief executive officer of the Division of Highways. See West Virginia Code 17-28-3
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- project sponsor: means a governmental entity proposing a transportation project. See West Virginia Code 17-28-3
- Revenue: means all revenue, income, earnings, user fees, lease payments or other service payments arising out of or in connection with supporting the development or operation of a transportation facility, including, without limitation, money received as grants or otherwise from the United States of America, from any public entity or from any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing in aid of such transportation project, moneys generated by way of contract, pledge, donation, bequest or bonds and moneys generated by taxes which are authorized to be assessed and levied by the Legislature or another governmental entity. See West Virginia Code 17-28-3
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Transportation project: means any project to acquire, design, construct, expand, renovate, extend, enlarge, increase, equip, improve, maintain or operate a transportation facility in this state for which a governmental entity is permitted by law to expend public funds but does not include any project that would otherwise be under the authority of the Public Port Authority, the Aeronautics Commission or the Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority. See West Virginia Code 17-28-3
(b) All transportation projects that are accepted as part of the state road system, and all real property interests and appurtenances, are under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of the commissioner, who may exercise the same rights and authority as he or she has over other transportation facilities in the state road system. As a condition of acceptance of a transportation project into the state road system, the commissioner may require that the project sponsor provide a dedicated revenue source for the continued operation and maintenance of the transportation project.
(c) No state road funds may be used to finance a transportation project without the written approval of the commissioner.