Mayor Steve Farrell told the Huntington City Council on Sept. 22 that three recent initiatives reflect the city’s focus on community safety and connection: a veteran homeless stand-down tied to a pilot to reduce homelessness, a multi-year schedule of bridge replacements with the West Virginia Department of Highways, and a campaign to restore street lighting across neighborhoods.

Farrell described the veteran event as a VA-sponsored stand-down and said it tied into “a veteran homeless pilot project that we've been working on, since the day I started.” He said the pilot aims for “functional zero homelessness,” explaining at the meeting that means having enough housing to serve people encountered within a 30-day period. Farrell attributed the work to partnerships with the Veterans Administration, the Huntington Housing Authority and local organizations.

On bridges, Farrell said the city has confirmed dates with the West Virginia Department of Highways for a sequence of projects along Pole Creek and other corridors. He listed bridges expected in coming seasons: the Izzle Boulevard bridge and the 12th Street bridge by the end of the year, Whittaker Boulevard by fall 2026, and Madison Avenue, the Arch Bridge and Harvey Road in October 2027; Wilson Court would be the final bridge because it requires more complex engineering.

Farrell also reported the city discovered more than 300 street lights out in August and worked with Appalachian Power and neighborhood volunteers to restore service. He credited the High Line Neighborhood Association and city public-works staff, including Scott Lindley, and said the city restored about 25 lights in the first week. The administration described a phased approach to restore lights in tranches of 40 to 50, and mentioned a continuing partnership with an entity referred to in the meeting as AAFCO.

The mayor framed the items as examples of “partnership and building community,” and said they show Huntington is taking tangible steps to reduce flooding, restore public safety lighting and assist veterans. He did not announce firm construction start dates or detailed budgets for the bridge projects during his remarks.