Mass transit: Sen. Byrd has increased the State of West Virginia's Mass Transit funding allocation from FY 1998 to FY 2006 in Transportation Appropriations bills and included an earmark in SAFETEA-LU that automatically provides the state with an additional annual $5 million for the duration of SAFETEA-LU. This funding allows the state to replace its aging buses and structures.
Airport improvements: Byrd has increased the State of West Virginia's Airport Improvement Program allocation by $6 million to $8 million annually since FY 2002. This significant boast to the state's allocation has helped to accelerate the pace in which airport improvements in the state can be made.
Byrd also added $21 million for the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR-9) System at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in the FY 1991 ($7 million) and FY 1992 ($14 million) Transportation Appropriations bills
Non-Federal Initiatives
University/College Construction
Sen. Byrd has added funds for new facilities and the renovation of existing centers at nearly every state college and university in West Virginia, including:
o The expansion of the Scarborough Library (approximately $13 million); the new nursing school ($10 million); the science and technology center ($9 million) at Shepherd University
o The construction of the new Erma Byrd Health Professions Education Center for the Eastern Division of the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center in Martinsburg ($6.5 million)
o Renovations to the library at Potomac State College.
Community Development
City of Charles Town: Sen. Byrd has added a total of $1.2 million to support two revitalization projects in downtown Charles Town: The Washington Corridor Revitalization project and The Charles Town Gateway Revitalization project.
The Washington Corridor Revitalization project included the replacement of cracked and deteriorated sidewalks; the installation of underground utility wires; the replacement of the entire drinking water main and service pipe system; the re-paving of Washington and George Streets; and, beautification items such as historically styled street lamps, new street trees, and street furniture.
The Charles Town Gateway Revitalization project targeted improvements to the eastern corridor of Washington Street.
Town of Harpers Ferry: The FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill included $1.425 million as requested by Byrd to improve Potomac Street in downtown Harpers Ferry, which runs parallel to the Potomac River and is across from the newly renovated National Park Service (NPS)-owned train station. The project is a public/private partnership between the Town of Harpers Ferry, the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the Harpers Ferry Merchants Association.
The town's portion of the project will cover underground utilities, street repair, sidewalk construction, parking, and facades.
Shepherdstown Community and Health Center: The FY 1993 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill included, at the senator's request, an amendment in the amount of $500,000 for the Town of Shepherdstown to renovate and transform the old Shepherdstown train station into a community and health center.
The renovated station, dedicated in October 2001, consists of a community center in the former main waiting room of the station and a dental office in the former freight and baggage room. In addition, the station master's office has been converted into space suitable for small meetings and social functions.
The Berkeley County Roundhouse
The project involves the renovation of three structures (the roundhouse, the frog and switch shop, and the bridge and machine shop) that are more than 130 years old. Sen. Byrd was successful in adding $2 million to the FY 2002 Transportation Appropriations bill to aid in the renovation of the roundhouse. He was also successful in adding $680,000 to the FY 2006 Transportation Appropriations bill for the Roundhouse.
