Huntington, WV to Vote on Transport Levy

The vote on the transportation levy, slated for the May 12, 2026, primary ballot, follows a period of contention between the Huntington City Council and the Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA). The primary point of disagreement was the financial responsibility for repairs at Pullman Square, a downtown property co-owned by the city and the TTA. Mayor Patrick Ferrell and some council members sought to amend the levy to include language that would require the TTA to contribute to the upkeep of the commercial space. The TTA board, however, maintained that its funds should not be used for non-transit-related maintenance. After negotiations, an agreement was reached where the TTA committed to helping the city find external funding for the Pullman Square repairs, clearing the way for the levy to be placed on the ballot without the contentious amendment. This levy is a renewal of a funding measure that has been approved by voters every five years since the 1980s and is crucial for the continued operations of the Tri-State Transit Authority. The funding supports the TTA's transportation assets and overall public transit services in the Huntington area. While the council's vote to place the levy on the ballot was unanimous, some bus riders have expressed frustration over the delays and have called for improved services, such as more frequent routes and Sunday service. The successful passage of the levy is intended to provide a stable source of funding for the TTA's public transportation services for the next five years, from 2028 to 2033. Details regarding the specific tax rate and the total revenue the levy is expected to generate have not been widely publicized in the available information. The resolution of the Pullman Square issue involves the city eventually taking full control of the property to prepare it for sale back to the private sector, with TTA CEO Paul Davis stating the transit authority's focus should be on transportation, not retail property management.