Moundsville Kicking Tires on Possible Bus Levy
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MOUNDSVILLE -- Leaders in Moundsville plan to gather residents' thoughts on possibly pursuing a new tax levy to support a full bus route to the city from Wheeling.
City Manager Rick Healy said council is planning to hold a public meeting on the matter likely sometime in late August.
He said council wants to hear people's opinions on whether it should place a proposed bus tax levy on a future primary or general election ballot in 2024.
The Ohio Valley Regional Transit Authority recently approved making a two-stop route into Marshall County permanent. This was decided after the results of a six-month trial run showed an 88% usage of the service that made stops at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital and the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The trial route was started because residents and social service workers in the Wheeling area said people without transportation needed access to the hospital and DMV via bus. They said it was important for many people to have this service to get their lives back on track.
Since the trial was a success, Moundsville Council wonders if a full route would not only benefit residents but the businesses in the city as well.
Healy said council wants to hear from both sides - from those who are in favor of it and from those who oppose it - and the reasons behind both. He said it is important to get feedback "because a levy puts an additional expense on citizens."
He noted the meeting likely will be held in a location to accommodate a large number of people, such as the Mound Museum or the Strand Theater.
A bus tax operating levy for Moundsville previously put up for a vote several years ago did not get enough support for passage. Such a levy must be approved with at least 60 percent of the vote.
Meanwhile, OVRTA also ran a trial route to The Highlands and the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville. However, after low usage those routes, which were offered earlier in the morning and later in the evening, were ended on July 3.
The current two-stop route to Moundsville departs from the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal parking garage in downtown Wheeling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It costs $1.30 per trip.