Obama and McCain Should Support Completion of Applachian Development Highway System

A study commissioned by the Appalachian Regional Commission says that Americans stand to gain $3 in total economic benefits for every $1 spent when the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) is finally completed. The ADHS is a federally funded, interstate-grade road system for Appalachia that spans 13 states and runs for more than 3,500 miles. Begun in the 1960’s, the highway system was one of the earliest ideas to come out of the Appalachian Research Commission, a new agency created by Congress thanks to the leadership of then President John F. Kennedy. (It should be pointed out here that an Eastern Kentuckian also played a prominent role in this effort; Harry Caudill, a Letcher County lawyer and later Prof at UK, had only recently written a book called Night Comes to the Cumberlands that served to galvanize American sympathy towards the Appalachian region.) To date the Appalachian road system is approximately 85% complete.

When complete, total user benefits from safety, reduced auto costs, etc. could exceed $1.6 billion annually by 2020 and more than $5 billion annually by 2035. Direct economic benefits, meanwhile, could exceed $2 billion by 2035 for the Appalachian region. Because of the reduced time and distance for business travelers Appalachian workers would stand to gain from new employment and business opportunities. Further, the study estimates more than 80,000 new jobs will be created resulting in more than $3 billion in increased wages.

Much has been made in recent weeks about Senator Barrack Obama’s weakness in Appalachia. Most of this weakness can be traced to cultural differences between national Democrats and the ones who live here in Appalachia. At the same time, I suspect many Democratic voters identified with Hillary Clinton’s populist economic message and have an innate distrust of urban Dems who might harm regionally vital industries- coal being chief amongst them.

Meanwhile Senator John McCain, who will likely get the lion’s share of Appalachian voters, also has his shortcomings where mountain voters are concerned. McCain has long been opposed to earmarks and additional federal spending. But the voters of Appalachia have consistently sent appropriators from both parties to represent them in Congress. For example, in Eastern Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers (Republican-5th C.D.) and in West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd have made it their life’s calling to bring home badly needed infrastructure for their poverty stricken areas. Voters have rewarded them by sending them to Washington for 28 and 50 years, respectively. To the extent that voters realize that McCain threatens highly desired projects, he may suffer at the polls. Additionally, McCain’s support for a cap on carbon emissions is seen by most as a threat to coal.

Although it’s unlikely that bread and butter issues will be enough for Obama to overcome McCain’s lead and win in Appalachia, voter apathy in the Appalachian areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania could hurt McCain down the stretch and potentially play a pivotal role in this year’s election.

Given their challenges both candidates need to reach out to Appalachian voters. One way they could do so would be to call for the completion of the ADHS. Total costs would run about $12 billion but could be spread over the course of eight to twelve years- enough time for candidates to get credit for both results and promises in this election as well as the next two.

Supporting the Appalachian Development Highway System could play to voters outside Appalachia as well. For Obama, the closest thing to the second coming of John F. Kennedy since RFK, building on Kennedy’s legacy in Appalachia would send a nice message to voters throughout the country. For McCain, a top priority in 08 must be continued success in rural, predominately red counties won by George W. Bush in 04. This is probably why McCain’s initial tour once he’d secured the nomination took him to areas such as Inez, KY.

Both candidates have the potential to achieve some big gains in Appalachia. Getting behind the completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System should be a priority for both.