Last week, the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee announced a series of public meetings and "field hearings" on upcoming surface transportation legislation. State and local officials and transportation stakeholders are being invited to the "field hearings".
Originally, the idea of the stakeholder was invented to give a way for someone who did not vote in a particular jurisdiction to have a voice in legislation that impacted them. However, it has come to be a way to do an end-run around democracy. After all, the only non-US citizens who should have a voice in our nation's transportation policy are immigrants, but I do not think that is who Mr. Mica wants to hear from.
The first "field hearing" was in Beckley, West Virginia today in the morning at The Theater at Tamarack, One Tamarack Park. There is no transit to this location, not even Amtrak or Greyhound, both of which serve Beckley. Only men have been invited to testify. Only one is an elected official. Two represent individual highways.
A second metting was later in the morning in Charleston, West Virginia. Fortunately, a member of the Friends of the West Virginia Cardinal was able to attend. He said that it went better than expected
I am still looking for information on the other meetings. They are being held within the next ten days, so hopefully more information will be available soon.
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