Morgantown dominates list of state's riskiest routes for vulnerable road users

Ben Conley, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
·2 min read

Nov. 17—MORGANTOWN — If it's possible that something can be unsurprising and yet still alarming, the West Virginia Department of Transportation has produced such a thing.

It's a list of West Virginia's most problematic road segments for vulnerable road users, meaning areas with the highest risk factors for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized travelers.

The fact that Morgantown is all over the list isn't surprising. The degree to which Morgantown dominates the list is.

Of the top 25 riskiest road segments for pedestrians and cyclists statewide, the top six and 11 of the top 14 are in Morgantown. All told, 12 of the top 25 are in and around Morgantown.

The data backing these rankings came through the WVDOT's Vulnerable Road User Assessment ; part of the 2022-26 West Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

The state took that data and ranked the roads using two key factors: Network characteristics and the volume of non-motorized road users along each route.

You'll notice a pattern.

Beechurst Avenue (8th Street to University Avenue) topped the charts, followed by University Avenue (Van Voorhis to 8th Street); University Avenue (North Street to College Avenue); College /University avenues (Willey Street to Jacob Street); Evansdale Drive (University Avenue to Rawley Avenue) and Campus Drive (Beechurst Avenue to University Avenue).

Moving further down the list, University and Beechurst avenues continue to show up again and again. Segments of Willey Street, North Willey Street and Willowdale Road are also highlighted.

Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Bill Austin said the rankings got the attention of the state, which intends to set up a local steering committee to help identify and prioritize pedestrian safety projects.

He said these projects would be primarily state funded using federal Highway Safety Improvement Program dollars.

"I think this reinforces what we've been hearing from the public and the message the MPO has been trying to get across, " Austin said, adding "I guess my excitement about this is the state is recognizing it and they're putting forward a plan of action ... I think it's exciting news for pedestrians and vulnerable road users in our area."