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Question
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Original June 23, 2000/Revised June 27, 2000/Revised July 10, 2000/Revised April 26, 2002/Revised November 22, 2002/Revised January 7, 2003/Revised January 8, 2003 This document was prepared by the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission (BHJ) staff. It was prepared as a reference document to elected officials and the general public. If errors have occurred, they should be attributed only to BHJ. 1. What is the BHJ Ohio River Regional Bridge System Study? The Study is a two-phase report prepared by a consultant to determine a need and a corridor for a bridge in the Upper Ohio Valley. 2. Tell me what the Study is not? It is not an environmental review. It is not a financial plan. It is not a bridge design plan. The Study is a needs and corridor analysis, one step toward building a new bridge. 3. What is a corridor? In contrast to the identification of an exact site, a corridor identifies a site with an approximate 2000 foot to 2 mile flexibility. 4. What is the cost of the Study and who funded the Study? The study cost is $263,000. On a 50-50 basis, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Department of Transportation have funded the Study. 5. What portion of the Ohio River does this Study include? The Ohio River from the Ft. Steuben Bridge to the Ohio County line, a 17 mile area. 6. Does the term "new bridge " mean a replacement bridge or a bridge at a new location? It means either. 7. Why do we need a Regional Bridge System Study? According to the adopted 2025 Regional Transportation Plan (Section 8-1-1), "the overall purpose of the Bridge Study is to determine the most suitable system of bridges in the BHJ Region within the defined study area... The report must identify a preferred bridge system within the defined study area ... Further, the bridge system is to be recommended from within a range of alternative networks beginning with a "do nothing" system ..." 8. Who is the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Organization (BHJ)? The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Organization(BHJ) is a federally mandated organization (Federal-Aid Policy Guide. Section 450.312. April 1999). Its purpose is to provide comprehensive transportation planning in the Steubenville-Weirton Metropolitan Area. Their office is located in Steubenville (124 North Fourth Street). The U.S. Department of Transportation requires regions of 50,000 or more to form a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). MPO's are key participants in the acquisition of federal funding for transportation and related projects. 9. What is the cost of a new bridge? Modjeski & Masters Consulting Engineers in Phase 1 of the Study provided the following bridge profile (Upper Ohio Valley Bridge System Study. Phase 1 Final Report. Page 20 June 2000). "The preliminary cost estimate is based on the plan area for each alternative. That is, we have assumed a four-lane divided highway with shoulders (82-foot total width), and a structure overall length scaled from a regional roadway map. The profile of the new bridge is unknown at this time, so definitive heights for piers cannot be estimated... No costs are included for approach roadway construction necessary to connect to the existing traffic network, nor any allowance included for right-of-way acquisition, relocation of utilities, resolution of environmental, historic or archeological issues, or unique foundations problems that may be encountered at the selected location." Short Structure $39.6
Million Edwards & Kelcey Consulting Engineers in Phase 2 of the Study provided slightly different bridge cost ranging from $31 million (two-lane structure) to $71 million (four-lane structure). These costs were stated in the hand-out BHJ Alternatives Evaluation Matrix (October 22, 2002) 10. When is an approved Study expected? If no unforseen delays occur, the Phase 2 Study is projected to be completed June 2003. 11. Who is the Study consultant? Who is the contractually named client? Edwards and Kelcey (Cincinnati, Ohio) is the consultant. Subconsultants, specialists hired by the consultant to complete portions of the study, are Burgess & Niple Limited (Computer Modeling: Columbus, Ohio), Modjeski & Masters Consulting Engineers (Bridge Construction: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania) and Thrasher Engineering, Inc. (Environmental Analysis: Clarksburg, West Virginia). The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Organization (BHJ) is the contractually named client. 12. If accepted and determined financially feasible, how long will it take to build a new bridge? Many factors including public consensus, elected official support, environmental reviews and funding solicitation affect a final construction decision. Consequently, there is no predictable schedule. The Veterans Bridge connecting Weirton, WV, to Steubenville, OH, took approximately 30 years from a statement of need to the actual bridge opening. The Maumee River Bridge in Toledo, OH., to start construction in Spring 2001, has taken approximately 10 years. A proposed Louisville, KY, Bridge has been discussed and evaluated for over 8 years and no public or location consensus has been reached. The Williamston-Marietta Bridge, WV, created through a sudden emergency closing of a structurally inadequate bridge, took six years. 13. Who will determine if a new bridge is to be constructed? The public, elected officials, federal-state review agencies and BHJ will determine if a new bridge is to be constructed. Based upon public consensus and Study facts, the governing body of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Organization will approve the Study. The BHJ governing body is called the BHJ Transportation Study Policy Committee. Federal and state review agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Department of Transportation will review the adequacy of the Study during and after approval by the Policy Committee. If found feasible by these administrative agencies and a public consensus is apparent, elected officials and local support groups will solicit federal and state financial participation. Upon the obtaining of funds and the completion of these actions, a new bridge will be constructed. 14. What will happen if a public consensus is not reached? While bridges have been built without public consensus, it is highly unlikely a new bridge or a new bridge scenario would be built without public consensus. 15. Why is the Study called a bridge system study? Why not call the study a bridge study? The three existing bridges in the 17 mile study area function as a system. If delays occur on one bridge, another bridge absorbs the delayed traffic. If trucks over 5 tons can not use the Market Street Bridge, then the remaining two bridges absorb this traffic. A new bridge, the closing of an existing bridge or the replacement of a bridge becomes part of this bridge system. 16. Doesn't the new Route 2 construction replace our need for a new bridge crossing? No. A road is one part of the transportation system. A bridge opens new access points, promotes traffic flow and creates further transportation efficiencies. 17. The media continues to mention three bridge locations. Are these the only bridge locations to be considered? No. The adopted regional transportation plan (2020 Regional Transportation Plan. Section 8-14. Adopted February 1998) evaluated three preliminary corridors. The Study consultant was instructed to expand this profile to all feasible corridors within the 17 mile study area. 18. Why doesn't the Regional Bridge System Study include any area north of the Ft. Steuben Bridge at Weirton? The 2025 Regional Transportation Plan targets the 17 mile river area from the Ft. Steuben Bridge to the Ohio County line. An area north of the Ft. Steuben Bridge has been suggested by a private entity, Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort. No preliminary costs or plans are yet to be released on this private proposal. 19. What information did the Phase 1 Study provide and how can I obtain a copy of the Phase 1 Study? Recommended by the Bridge Advisory Committee and BHJ Transportation Study Technical Advisory Committee, the BHJ Transportation Study Policy Committee adopted the Phase 1 Study in May 2000. A summary, but not comprehensive listing of the Phase 1 Study follows:
A copy of the Phase 1 Study may be obtained through the BHJ office. It is a 35 page document. A charge of $12.00 per copy will be applied to cover copying cost. An additional charge of $1.50 is required for mailing. 20. What new information will the Phase 2 Study provide? The purpose statement
of the contractual agreement between the bridge consultant and BHJ reads
"The study must result in a locally preferred decision on the optimal
number and generalized location of river crossings needed for the study
area through the 2025 planning horizon. This decision must be based on
and supported by quantitative traffic operational, social and economic
values, and capital and maintenance cost data of the existing and the
envisioned future bridge system within a fiscally constrained Plan." Future meeting dates and minutes from past meetings may be found on the BHJ web site bhjmpc@bhjmpc.org. The schedule is listed under the menu title "Bridge Study." 22. Who and how will BHJ review and approve the Study? BHJ review and approval is a three-step process. Step 1. A Bridge Advisory
Committee will review and recommend the Study to the BHJ Step 2. The BHJ Transportation Study Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will review and recommend the Study to the BHJ Transportation Study Policy Committee (Policy Committee) Step 3. The Policy Committee will review and approve the Study. In accordance to federal legislation, the Policy Committee's determination will stand as the transportation priority statement for the region. 23. Who selected the members of the Bridge Advisory Committee? What is their role? Who are the members of the Bridge Advisory Committee? The Policy Committee, at their bimonthly meeting in September 1999 and updated at the May 2002 meeting, selected members of the Bridge Advisory Committee. The Bridge Advisory Committee is advisory to the BHJ Technical Advisory Committee. Its purpose is to review and recommend a Regional Bridge System Study. Throughout the Study, it will meet on a regular basis to review the consultant's progress. Due to job changes and elected official changes, the composition of the BAC has and will change. These changes will be noted to the Policy Committee and formal action on these changes will be taken to assure the intended composition of the BAC. The BAC is an advisory body. It is not an adopting body. Its purpose is to review and recommend. Throughout the Study, it will meet on a regular basis to review and guide the consultant's study. Voting members of the Bridge Advisory Committee are as follows. BHJ Commission .............................................................................
Norm Schwertfeger 24. What is the difference between the BHJ Bridge Study Advisory Committee and the Regional Bridge Task Force of Southern Brooke and Jefferson Counties? The BHJ Bridge Study Advisory Committee is an advisory group selected by the governing body of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Regional Bridge
Task Force of Southern Brooke and Jefferson Counties is a citizen advocacy
group. 25. Who selected the members of the BHJ Transportation Study Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)? What is their role? Who are the members of TAC? The Policy Committee of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Organization selected TAC members. TAC's role is to review
and recommend plans and establish schedules in accordance with the Voting members of the TAC are as follows. Brooke County Board
of Education .........................................................
Ron Ujcich Advisory, non-voting members are Don Bailey (WVDOT), John Brown (BHJ), Mike Paprocki (BHJ), Don Bailey (WVDOT) and Dave Speer (ODOT) 26. Who selected the members of the BHJ Transportation Study Policy Committee? What is their role? Who are the members of the Policy Committee? The selection of Policy Committee members is defined in the adopted bylaws for BHJ. and federally mandated transportation legislation. The role of the Policy Committee is to assure federal aid transportation projects are planned in a continuous, coordinated and comprehensive manner. This role was required by the 1962 Highway Act and outlines a similar approach in all metropolitan areas. Before federal funds can be expended on a project in the BHJ region, the project must have been adopted by the Policy Committee. Voting members of the Policy Committee are as follows. Adena ...............................................................................................
Ray Jeskey, Mayor Advisory, non-voting members are Don Bailey (WVDOT), John Brown (BHJ), Leonard Brown (Ohio Federal Highway Administration), Dan Neff (Appalachia Regional Commission), Myron Pakush (ODOT District 11),Mike Paprocki (BHJ), Dave Speer (ODOT District 11), Paul Raetsch (U.S. Economic Development Administration), Jon Ventura (West Virginia Federal Highway Administration) and Charles Wilkins (Ohio Federal Highway Administration). 27. What constitutes a quorum and majority vote of the BHJ Transportation Study Policy Committee? In accordance to adopted bylaws, a quorum is 15 or more and a majority vote is over 50% in attendance. 28. How can a citizen or business assure their comments will be considered in the Study? A citizen or business can attend public information meetings, announced on the BHJ web site and communicated through the radio and the TV media. In addition, a citizen or business can access the BHJ web site and provide comment. Alternatively, a citizen or business can write directly to the BHJ Staff Advisor to the Study (Dr. John Brown. Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Planning Commission. 124 North Fourth Street. Steubenville, OH 43952. 29. If I have any questions about the Ohio River Bridge System Needs and Location Study, who do I call? Dr. John Brown 30. How can I keep current on Study progress? The BHJ web site has a bridge progress report. Advisory Committee minutes and a calendar are included. The web address is as follows. bhjmpc@bhjmpc.org |
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Back to Upper Ohio Valley Regional Bridge System Needs and Location Study ©Edwards and Kelcey Site Maintained by M. Kirby Last Updated: July 7, 2003 |