Small businesses in Thomas and Davis say they would prefer a planned four-lane highway to be rerouted north, instead of running through what they say are environmentally valuable and outdoor recreation-based regions.

Pamela Moe, runs a consulting business in Tucker County which does environmental and educational work with nonprofits. She is also a member of the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce, which recently sent its members a survey seeking feedback on the impacts of Corridor H on small businesses. While the results haven't yet been publicly released, Moe said many owners are concerned about the effect of a highway on tourism in the neighboring towns.

"It's been interesting to watch what has happened to the economy of the county over time," Moe observed. "It has become primarily a tourism and outdoor recreation is the driver now, and both towns, the businesses have increased. It has become very much -- they have become very much -- destinations in and of themselves."

The Federal Highway Administration and West Virginia Division of Highways recently extended the public comment period to Nov. 3 for the section of Corridor H between Wardensville and the Virginia state line.

People can submit a comment online or by mail.

Comments for the Parsons-Davis section can also be submitted online. The comment period for Parsons-Davis ends on December 12.

The state contended the project will open up remote areas in Grant, Tucker and Hardy counties to economic development and boost travel between West Virginia, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Moe countered the region's natural beauty, including multiple state parks, wilderness areas and public lands are at risk from development.

"The whole Tucker County, I think it's a crown jewel, and it also has challenging terrain, unstable geology," Moe asserted. "I think that the need to look at alternatives is critical. And right now, that doesn't seem to be something that is taking place."

Moe added local petitions have emerged calling for diverting the highway in various places to preserve wildlife habitat and waterways.

"There have been some petitions done locally," Moe pointed out. "In particular, targeting the businesses in both Thomas and Davis. And in both cases, the majority of businesses in both towns prefer the northern route."

So far, more than 2,200 residents have signed a petition calling for a better route.

A Minnesota bill could surface as early as this week, calling for a proposed tax increase to fund transportation needs.

Advocates and local government leaders hope lawmakers hear calls from the public to offer a range of options for residents to get around.

Transportation remains one of the issues still being debated in the current legislative session.

Sam Rockwell, executives director of the group Move Minnesota, said its recent polling indicates a majority of Minnesotans want to see more flexibility in how transit funds are spent.

"We saw 66% of Minnesotans," said Rockwell, "supporting shifting funding to support biking, walking and transit."

About 55% said they would support a regional sales tax to fund metro-area transit improvements. That's one of the recommendations from Rockwell's group to boost options.

While Democrats control the Legislature and the governor's office, it's unclear how transportation funding will come together. Republicans blocked a bonding bill, which included money for things such as walking trails, citing the need for tax relief first.

Bloomington City Council Member Patrick Martin said providing more efficient and accessible transportation options can help in a variety of ways, including helping business corridors.

"The development possibilities it opens up," said Martin, "knowing, you can say, reduced parking because there's reliable transportation nearby."

Nearly one third of Minnesotans said they would be more likely to use buses and trains if there were greater access in their neighborhoods.

Rockwell suggested that following up on that demand could help reduce emissions and personal budgets, because people wouldn't have to rely on cars as much.

"Being able to rely on your feet, on a bicycle, on the bus and the train," said Rockwell, "brings those transportation costs down."




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The transportation and warehousing industry continues to lead as Indiana's fastest-growing business sector, and has been for over a decade now, but the companies, like many others, don't have enough employees.

The Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University said despite hiring bonuses and "help wanted" signs posted at trucking companies, too many jobs remain unfilled.

Carla Rogers, director of the center, said at the onset of the pandemic, the demand for goods could not keep up with the low supply of workers.

"We suddenly started getting more and more stuff delivered," Rogers recounted. "Instead of going to a store, we were getting it delivered. That needed more trucks, more truck drivers, more people in the warehouses to do the stocking."

Rogers pointed out Indiana's Department of Workforce Development has received federal money to create "WorkOne," an online center arranged by county where people can get information on choosing or changing a career, job training and apprenticeships.

She is also optimistic Indiana will continue to offer a "high school to community college to commercial training" pipeline for the next generation of workers in these fields.

Rogers thinks the trucking industry still has some barriers to address, to help people understand truck driving can be not only a safe experience, but also a well-paid career.

"We really ought to be looking at women, young people and people of color," Rogers urged. "These are the folks that could really benefit by what trucking is doing - and also train people up to become digitally literate."

According to the Business Research Center, between 2011 and 2021, Indiana's transportation and warehousing sector grew by almost 37%, adding more than 46,000 jobs, bringing the total number of statewide transportation and warehousing jobs to more than 171,000.


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Transit advocates are calling on Connecticut's General Assembly to keep the state's public transit system free.

In April 2022, Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation suspending collection of bus fares throughout the state, but the program ends March 31.

The General Assembly is reviewing a bill to require the state's Department of Transportation to conduct a fare equity analysis, to study making fare-free public transportation permanent in Connecticut. The bill might not pass before the suspension of fares ends.

Jay Stange, coordinator for Transport Hartford Academy, wants the bill to be amended to delay the program's end. He described how fare-free transit helps Connecticut bus riders.

"Bus service that's free and equitable is a means of reducing transportation expenses for individuals and families," Stange pointed out. "Especially, amid unstable gas prices right now, growing inflation, and the continuing impacts of the pandemic."

The bill had a public hearing at which most Connecticut residents gave support, not only for the bill, but also for keeping the state's public transportation free permanently. Opposition to the bill came from one of the state's transit districts, which did its own study on eliminating fares, and found the costs outweigh the benefits.

One challenge Stange noted has been convincing legislators setting aside $32 million to $40 million is important for the program. This funding would keep it alive for another year as the fare equity analysis gets underway, should the bill requiring it pass. He feels public transportation needs to be a public good for anyone who needs it.

"We are making the case to folks who make the decisions about appropriations in Connecticut that this is a good and worthwhile investment," Stange asserted. "Fare-free transit should be a public good like going to the library or getting EMS service."

During the pandemic, public transportation saw massive ridership declines due in part to social distancing rules and a lack of knowledge about COVID-19, but data from the American Public Transportation Association shows bus ridership has been steadily increasing, though it has not reached pre-pandemic levels.