Relating to increasing the safety of the New River Gorge Bridge

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stan Adkins and 9 co-sponsors

A study by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance will evaluate feasible pedestrian safety measures for the New River Gorge Bridge, including costs, funding, and impact on B

To House Rules

#publicsafety #resolutions(interimstudy) #roadsandtransportation

Overview

Bill: HCR 17 (House Concurrent Resolution 17)

Session: 2026, West Virginia

Purpose: Request the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study safety measures for pedestrians on the New River Gorge Bridge, including feasibility, costs, and funding options. The study would consider how measures could be implemented without disrupting Bridge Day activities.

Main Purpose and Intent

To commissioning a formal study of pedestrian safety enhancements on the New River Gorge Bridge.

To evaluate feasibility, expected effectiveness, and cost of installing and maintaining pedestrian safety measures on the bridge.

To assess whether such measures can be installed in a way that permits Bridge Day activities to continue, or determine how costs would change if Bridge Day were restricted or not allowed.

To identify potential funding sources, including federal funding, state road funds, grants, and partnerships with other agencies, institutions, or private entities.

Key Provisions and Changes

Directs the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study on pedestrian safety measures for the New River Gorge Bridge.

Mandates collaboration with the Bridge Day Commission to:

Assess whether safety measures can be installed and maintained without hindering Bridge Day activities.
Analyze how costs would differ if such measures were incompatible with Bridge Day.

Requires the study to explore:

Availability and extent of federal funding for these measures.
Feasibility of using funds from the State Road Fund.
Possibility of grants and external funding.
Opportunities to enter agreements with other governmental bodies, educational institutions, and private entities for data collection and analysis.
Potential contracting with private parties or companies.

Output anticipated: findings, conclusions, and recommendations, along with draft legislation needed to implement recommendations.

Reporting deadline: The Joint Committee on Government and Finance must report to the 2027 regular session with findings and proposed legislation.

Who/What Would Be Affected

New River Gorge Bridge and its pedestrian safety considerations.

Bridge Day activities, which are a major event at the site.

State agencies involved in transportation funding (State Road Fund) and potential federal programs.

Educational institutions or private contractors that might participate in the study or implementation.

The Joint Committee on Government and Finance, acting as the study sponsor.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced February 10, 2026; referred to the Rules Committee.

The study is to be completed with a report to the 2027 regular session of the Legislature.

The bill does not authorize immediate funding or concrete safety measures; it creates a pathway for study, evaluation, and legislative drafting of potential measures.

Expenses for the study and drafting of legislation would be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

Notes

This is a procedural/forward-looking measure rather than a bill that directly changes safety policy or funds. It aims to inform future legislative action by laying out a structured study, stakeholder consultation (notably with the Bridge Day Commission), and exploration of funding and implementation options.