Empty rest areas now dot Virginia’s interstates
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Morning traffic heading east on Interstate 64 in Goochland County passes a newly closed rest stop.
Cars and trucks blew past 18 empty interstate highway rest areas across Virginia today.
As scheduled, the state began shutting down the rest areas targeted for cost-cutting overnight and finished the job earlier today, the Virginia Department of Transportation said.
The action came amid protests from the traveling public, tourism advocates, the trucking industry and the two candidates for governor.
The Ladysmith rest stop on Interstate 95 in Caroline County, for example, hummed with activity only the day before. This morning, the parking lot was empty except for a couple of contractor pickups.
Orange barrels closed off the ramps into and out of the rest areas, and electronic message signs warned: “Rest Areas Closed.“
Rob Thompson of Supply doubted the state will realize the savings it seeks from shutting the rest areas.
“Save $9 million? They’re going to blow it on something else,“ the truck driver said as he stopped at the All American Travel Plaza off I-95 at Doswell.
“When you’ve got to answer nature’s call,“ Thompson said, “you can’t stop just anywhere.“
(This is a breaking news update)
Highway crews were to begin closing 18 interstate rest stops early today, hours after the two gubernatorial candidates urged that they stay open. Each pledged to reopen them if elected.
Shutting the popular facilities because of tumbling transportation revenues has prompted wide opposition from the traveling public and the tourism and trucking industries.
By dawn, orange barrels and cones should block the closed rest areas’ entrance ramps. Among the rest areas being shuttered are those on Interstate 95 at Ladysmith in Caroline County, on Interstate 64 near Oilville in Goochland, and on Interstate 85 near Dinwiddie Courthouse in Dinwiddie County.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said drivers already in rest areas would be allowed to remain until they finished resting, and once the rest stops were clear of motorists, crews will block the exit ramps.
The highway agency also will change interstate signs to say the rest areas are closed and will adjust signs that guide motorists to the next facility. Electronic signs will give motorists warning that the rest areas are shut.
VDOT then will put the closed stops into mothballs—stripping out useful items, turning off utilities, draining the plumbing, boarding up the buildings, and putting up steel gates—at an estimated cost of $570,000.
After statewide public hearings, the Commonwealth Transportation Board voted in June to cut the number of rest areas the Virginia Department of Transportation runs from 42 to 23 as the agency grapples with a $2.6 billion revenue shortfall. The rest-stop closings will save about $8.6 million.
“We have a very serious revenue situation in transportation,“ state Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer said yesterday. “We need to make sure that we’re meeting the very highest priorities of the commonwealth.
“We believe we’ve done that in the budget we adopted,“ he said, “and we hope to avoid further cuts.“
Former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, promised yesterday that he would reopen the rest stops within 90 days of taking office in January.
McDonnell said that to keep the rest stops open, he would seek changed transportation funding priorities, ask organizations to contribute to rest-area operations, “explore creative financing structures” and consider using work-release prisoners and people doing court-required community service to maintain the rest areas.
State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee, speaking with reporters later on a conference call, said he agreed the rest stops should remain open and that he would reopen them within 60 days of becoming governor. He previously has supported efforts to have the rest areas operated by private companies.
Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or
.
Staff writer Jim Nolan contributed to this report.
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Reader Reactions
It’s funny watching all these RINO blaming Governor Kaine for everything that ills the world. The Governor tried to get a waiver to privatize the rest areas and you know who helped shut it down, republican Eric Cantor. Jimmy Barrett (WRVA) informed us that Cantor opposed the Wolf Amendment because it would lead to competition with existing businesses just off the interstates. Yes, Cantor (R) actively worked to defeat the Wolf Amendment because existing business near interstates oppose commercial ventures at these eighteen Interstate Safety Rest stops.
That’s why the bill was shut down in the house so quickly. But I guess that’s the governors fault, right?
compusa…There is plenty of money in the system to support the rest stops. As others have posted, Taxing Tim Kaine is using a typical Democrat ploy, like Mark Warner did with the DMV closings, hurt the public if they don’t let me raise taxes. Kaine is playing politics as his political clout evaporates…Kaine has been one of the WORST Govs in decades, he is a lying fraud, and comp, HE makes Gilmore and McDonnell look great by comparison!
TOLL - nothing but a tax that hurts individuals whereas the gas tax spreads the pain over everyone buying gasoline Tourists passing through the state as well as locals.
Bob McDonnell - another Jim Gilmore clone, with the same stale, Investigate VDOT, there’s plenty of money already in the system crap that Gilmore spewed, And Bob McDonnell wants to load the six year plan with political payoff projects just like Gilmore - which brought the system down, and required a purging of the six year plan -
The six year plan is a misnomer, because, since from 1975, every project funded by the current formula has taken 30 years to reach a point where it had enough funds to be built. that ain’t no six year plan.
Everyone welcome Bob “Gilmore” McDonnell and his “Gilmore Gridlock” transportation plan.
3 vehicles were pulled over on the shoulder just past the rest area in Goochland. A couple was switching drivers and walking a little on the right lane. Luckily they didn’t get hit but it could have ended differently and how many deaths will Kaine be responsible for now?
One might think the governor would cut spending on something that would not endanger peoples lives on the road. Guess he has no further political ambition because Virginians will not easily fore git what he has done.
The time may come when we may have to make a reservation and pay a fee/toll to use the interstate highway system. This would really be pay as you go.
Stay alert take a break for safety. Anyone remember this is another reason rest areas are so important? This is the best Tim Kaine can come up with for budget reduction. Obviously, he is a stellar student in Obamanomics 101. Once again, travelers are inconvenienced. How does that help us? I know Tim Kaine doesn’t worry how many miles until the NC or MD state line to use a rest stop. Thanks a lot for sticking us yet again!
“Posted by ( squier13 ) on July 22, 2009 at 11:15 am “
Squier13, I95 and the rest of the roads are pay as you go (it is called the gas tax). People who drive pay it (i.e. those who use it). Amtrack is paid by people who dont use it.
THAT is the difference and it is a big one.
“When was the last time (never) that Amtrak made a profit.“
*************************
When was the last time I-95 or any other road made a profit? People whine about the piddly $30 billion we’ve spent on Amtrak in the last 3 decades, but they have no problem with the $1.5 TRILLION we’ve spent on roads in the same period. I don’t get it.
Rest areas were created for safety purposes when the Interstate system was established and they are needed. I agree with others who recognize that unfortunately, people are going to have to die first in order to change the perception that these stops aren’t useful.
I live in Wisconsin and have been following the plight of Virginia’s rest areas with great interest. States across the nation are desperate for revenue streams instead of raising taxes, and commercializing the rest areas would be a great way to accomplish this. We have to lobby against the federal laws that currently prohibit states from making their own decisions in this area.
In Wisconsin, rest areas are cost-effectively maintained by more than 300 people with disabilities. It’s a great jobs program through the WisDOT that teaches people job skills so they may live independently, outside of institutions, contribute to the tax base in their community, rely less on social services, and have the dignity and self-esteem that comes with employment opportunities.
Rest areas, as ramgrl pointed out, are a great tourism resource for travels to your state. And again, most importantly, they’re about safety! They are located RIGHT OFF the Interstate, not a mile or sometimes more from an exit ramp.
Virginia is a gorgeous state and I’ve so loved visiting friends there. Wisconsin is looking to you guys for leadership on this issue. Lobby the feds to change the commercialization laws. We’d like to help you!!!
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