Seemingly free parking at an empty lot in the Elkins railyard and along Railroad Avenue may soon come to an end.
The Randolph County Development Authority owns the railyard property and is trying to keep the land looking tidy. The effort has posed some difficulties with tractor trailers and others using the lot between Go Mart and the Holiday Inn Express and a portion of grass between the depot and the Darden Mill for parking.
RCDA members on Wednesday approved a $3,500 expenditure for large, decorative concrete barricades to be placed along the railyard property. One type of barricade discussed weighs 2 tons each and has a hook to remove and place the blocks. Also discussed was the possibility of bollards instead of the blocks. Members plan to check into the price of bollards and will make a decision which barricade to use at a later date.
"There will be no question we want none of those vehicles sitting there," said RCDA Executive Director Jennifer Giovannitti.
RCDA board member Don Megert suggested the blocks be placed approximately 5 feet apart to keep vehicles off the property. The barricades will line the vacant lot between Go Mart and the Holiday Inn Express and be placed between the Darden Mill and a speed limit sign near the south end of the depot.
Some parking spots will be left for cars beside the depot.
The RCDA also discussed the success of the Ramps and Rails event and congratulated the Huttonsville Public Service District for receiving $1.9 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
