Seeing how millions of federal dollars will make the city of Bluefield an easier place for pedestrians and bicycle riders to navigate was one part Tuesday of a visit from one of West Virginia's representatives in Washington. D.C.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Bluefield and spoke with local leaders about how a $25,547,532 grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program will be spent. The city was awarded the funding in September by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city also received another $6,386,883 from the West Virginia Department of Highways.
Capito visited the Bluefield Economic Development Office to learn about plans for the grant. City Manager Cecil Marson described how the city started working two years ago to obtain the Safe Street for All grant. Thanks to this grant, three of the city's major arteries are "going to get fixed," he said.
The project will allow the city to install miles of bicycle trails, sidewalks and safety measures for pedestrians, Capito was told. The grant will install three road roundabouts, two of them on College Avenue and one at the U.S. Route 52 near Hill Avenue. Stadium Drive will be another of the grant project's focus areas.
One roadway, Cherry Street, goes from Bluefield State University to its dorm and classroom facility at the former Bluefield Regional Medical Center. There are times when students use this street, which Marson described as dangerous and treacherous, as a walkway to and from the two campuses.
"That whole road is going to get widened with sidewalks, bike lanes and lighting, Americans with Disabilities Act access, so that's going to completely free up all those kids to move back and forth. When that was a hospital that wasn't necessary, but now that's completely changed," Marson said.
Capito was also told about plans for the Midway Overpass Grant that the city received just before Christmas in 2023. The $13,480,000 award for the city came through the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program.
Access to the Midway area from Bluefield has been restricted because of a small tunnel that limits traffic flow and access for emergency vehicles such as fire engines. The plan is to build an overpass bridge into the Midway area to improve the traffic flow and reduce flooding issues. Marson said the tunnel often floods during heavy rain, including during the recent deluge from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The bridge will include bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Marson told Capito about the damage that Hurricane Helene inflicted on Bluefield and the ongoing cleanup work. Capito then toured the city to see where the Safe Streets grant would be spent as well as cleaning up damage inflicted by the storm.
"The last thing I'll leave you with is, unfortunately, we had this storm but with all the projects you have funded, our better days are ahead of us and I am just honestly so thankful, the mayor is thankful, the whole city is thankful. We appreciate what you do. I know that Safe Streets for All is one of the largest given in the country and that is a gift to Bluefield, I'm not smart enough to articulate how much we appreciate it, but we'll use it wisely, and we will do what you want us to do down here to get this area where it needs to be."
Capito said she appreciated the briefing, but added, "you've to to pat yourselves on the back, too."
"A lot of these are competitive grants and if you're not writing and showing the need and fleshing out the projects as good as you do, you're not going to get the money," Capito said.
The city had done the work necessary for a major grant application. There are times when applicants have big plans, but they do not have backup plans such as pre-engineering studies, traffic studies, population studies or economic studies, so they cannot justify a grant, Capito said.
“As I was worked to craft the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I saw a generational opportunity to improve West Virginia’s surface transportation infrastructure. U.S. Route 52 is a crucial thoroughfare for Bluefield and these improvements will increase road safety and continue expanding economic opportunities in and around the city. I was proud to advocate for this project and I’m thrilled to see work underway,” Capito said later.