Slowly but surely, rest stops will reopen
Back in July, VDOT let us know that almost 18 rest stops and the West Manassas Welcome Center would be closed due to budget cuts. Newly-inaugurated Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is planning to undo that.
Back in July, VDOT let us know that almost 18 rest stops and the West Manassas Welcome Center would be closed due to budget cuts. Newly-inaugurated Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is planning to undo that.
In a press release from Governor McDonnell’s office it was announced that efforts to reopen these facilities would begin in February, with the process being complete by April 15.
McDonnell stated:
“I disagreed with the previous decision to close 19 Virginia rest stops and welcome centers. It negatively impacted public safety, tourism, and economic development. The darkened rest stops presented an image of a Virginia ‘closed for business.’ They left truckers and families without safe and secure areas at which they could get a break from the road, increasing the potential for accidents. Tourists traveling through the state could no longer pull over to learn about Virginia places and sites to visit. Virginians rightly recognized immediately the negative implications of that decision. Today, we have reversed it.”
“I fully understand that this is a tough budget. Significant spending cuts must be made. But they must be made with a comprehensive review of the ramifications of each decision on our citizens. I thank Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton for his leadership on this matter, moving within days of taking office to get this action accomplished. I thank the members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board for working with us to achieve this positive result. I look forward to welcoming travelers to the first re-opened rest stop in February.”
The inevitable question: How are they paying for this if the whole reason for getting rid of the rest stops was a lack of funds?
VDOT will use $3 million from its maintenance reserve fund to operate the facilities through the remainder of this fiscal year which ends June 30. Long-term funding for the rest areas will be identified as VDOT revises its maintenance budget this spring. The maximum anticipated cost for the 2011 fiscal yearis $7.5 million.
The administration will continue to work with business leadership around the state to kick off an Adopt a Rest Stop program to permit private sector contributions to help with operation costs.
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Valerie Catrow
Valerie Catrow is editor of RVAFamily, mother to a mop-topped first grader, and always really excited to go to bed.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Ridiculous. I can see where it would be a problem if all the rest stops were closed. This was probably the easiest cut to make in the budget why bring it back?
Tim Kaine couldnt fight his way out of a closed rest area