HARRISONBURG — Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, appointed Del. Tony Wilt, R-Broadway, to serve on the Interstate 81 Committee on Friday.

The committee was formed as part of the I-81 funding legislation that passed the General Assembly this most recent session.

Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, as well as Sens. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, and Charles Carrico Sr., R-Lee, sponsored identical legislation to identify a funding source for the $2.2 billion in proposed improvements to the corridor.

Through bipartisan efforts, a funding source through a regional fuel tax, a statewide diesel tax, a higher road tax on heavy trucks and an increase in registration fees for heavy trucks was established.

Legislation also created a committee to be tasked with providing advice and recommendations to the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board regarding the development and updates to the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan.

The committee will be comprised of four members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House and three members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

The chairs of planning districts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and Commonwealth Transportation Board members representing Bristol, Salem and Staunton highway construction districts will also be on the committee.

The commissioner of highways and the director of the department of rail and public transportation will serve as ex officio members.

“I am honored to receive this appointment to the I-81 Committee,” Wilt said in a press release. “As I have said before, the folks I represent made clear to me that we need to get something meaningful done to address the deficiencies on I-81.”

Wilt said he took that mindset to Richmond during the last session.

“With funding mechanisms now in place, I intend to continue to honor that commitment through my work on the Committee,” Wilt said. “I will be a wise steward of taxpayer resources while advocating for projects and initiatives that realize benefit for Valley residents.”

Cox said addressing the safety and reliability problems on I-81 is “critical” for western Virginia and the entire Commonwealth.

“Delegate Wilt has been a leader on this issue and I have no doubt he will continue to effectively advocate for the transportation needs of local residents through his work on the Committee,” Cox said.