BELLE, W.Va. -- West Virginia Turnpike officials on Tuesday kicked off a series of public hearings on a proposed 60 percent toll hike, but not many people showed up.

 At the start of the hearing at Riverside High School in Belle, three people had signed up to speak on the potential increase, which could be approved as soon as next month.

The hearing was the first of four public meetings, which will continue through Friday.

In April, members of the state Parkways Authority began the process of raising tolls when they accepted two engineering reports on the road's maintenance needs and revenue forecasts.

Under the proposal, cars would pay $2 per barrier, up from the current $1.25. Commercial trucks would pay $6.75, up from $4.25.

Motorists could buy a West Virginia E-Z Pass to get a 25 percent discount on the tolls.

On Tuesday evening, Marmet resident Melvin Boyd told officials he vehemently opposed any toll hike.

"The people and the economy are in dire straits, and you are proposing a 60 percent increase," he said.

He questioned why the state couldn't use federal funds to help maintain the road, and suggested it impose $2 tolls on Interstate 64 between Charleston and Huntington, "where the politicians live."

"Why doesn't I-64 ever run out of money?" he asked

Boyd also said officials had already made up their mind about the tolls -- and held the public hearing for "legal purposes only." A few years ago, the authority raised rates, but a Kanawha County judge rolled them back because officials had not given proper public notice.

Joe Deneault, chairman of the group West Virginians for Better Transportation, said he "applauded the Parkways Authority for standing up and doing what is a very difficult task."

The state could face serious consequences if the Turnpike continues to lose money, he said after he spoke to officials. But he suggested that board members review toll rates more frequently so that motorists aren't hit with such huge hikes.

Tolls -- which haven't increased in 28 years -- are the 88-mile Turnpike's only source of operating funds. Turnpike officials say they must raise them because declining revenues and a maintenance backlog threaten their ability to meet debt service requirements.

Authority board members are scheduled to vote on the toll hike June 25, said Parkways Authority General Manager Greg Barr.

They also must adopt a new budget by July 1 -- and won't have enough revenue to satisfy debt service coverage tests if they don't raise tolls, he said.

BELLE, W.Va. -- West Virginia Turnpike officials on Tuesday kicked off a series of public hearings on a proposed 60 percent toll hike, but not many people showed up.

 At the start of the hearing at Riverside High School in Belle, three people had signed up to speak on the potential increase, which could be approved as soon as next month.

The hearing was the first of four public meetings, which will continue through Friday.

In April, members of the state Parkways Authority began the process of raising tolls when they accepted two engineering reports on the road's maintenance needs and revenue forecasts.

Under the proposal, cars would pay $2 per barrier, up from the current $1.25. Commercial trucks would pay $6.75, up from $4.25.

Motorists could buy a West Virginia E-Z Pass to get a 25 percent discount on the tolls.

On Tuesday evening, Marmet resident Melvin Boyd told officials he vehemently opposed any toll hike.

"The people and the economy are in dire straits, and you are proposing a 60 percent increase," he said.

He questioned why the state couldn't use federal funds to help maintain the road, and suggested it impose $2 tolls on Interstate 64 between Charleston and Huntington, "where the politicians live."

"Why doesn't I-64 ever run out of money?" he asked

Boyd also said officials had already made up their mind about the tolls -- and held the public hearing for "legal purposes only." A few years ago, the authority raised rates, but a Kanawha County judge rolled them back because officials had not given proper public notice.

Joe Deneault, chairman of the group West Virginians for Better Transportation, said he "applauded the Parkways Authority for standing up and doing what is a very difficult task."

The state could face serious consequences if the Turnpike continues to lose money, he said after he spoke to officials. But he suggested that board members review toll rates more frequently so that motorists aren't hit with such huge hikes.

Tolls -- which haven't increased in 28 years -- are the 88-mile Turnpike's only source of operating funds. Turnpike officials say they must raise them because declining revenues and a maintenance backlog threaten their ability to meet debt service requirements.

Authority board members are scheduled to vote on the toll hike June 25, said Parkways Authority General Manager Greg Barr.

They also must adopt a new budget by July 1 -- and won't have enough revenue to satisfy debt service coverage tests if they don't raise tolls, he said.

"That's what has driven this whole effort," he said.

Several board members are worried that July 1 would be too soon for new toll prices to take effect, he said. 

"Some have talked about Aug. 1 [as] a more reasonable date," he said.

Before the public comment session, several people attended an informational workshop where they got packets about why the authority wants to raise tolls, and worksheets to help determine which discount program they should sign up for.

Three discount programs are available: one for people who travel the Turnpike at least three times a month, another for less frequent travelers, and a third for commercial drivers.

"Anybody that uses the road really more than once every couple of months could save money with one of these plans," Barr said.

The worksheets and public comment forms also are available on the Turnpike's Web site, www.wvturnpike.com.

Three more hearings are scheduled this week. Each is scheduled for 4 to 8:30 p.m., beginning with informational workshops from 4 to 6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., the hearings will take on a town hall-style format, where the public can comment.

| Wednesday: Fayette County Courthouse, Fayetteville

| Thursday: Raleigh County Armory, Beckley

| Friday: Mercer County Courthouse, Princeton

Barr said he expects the biggest turnout on Friday.

"I've been hearing Mercer County's really worked up about it," he said. "So I figure that's where we would get the most."

Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.