VDOT begins warnings of interstate rest stop closures
Virginia Department of Transportation
The northbound Interstate 95 rest stop near in Spotsylvania County near Ladysmith is among those slated for closure later this month.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has begun putting up electronic message signs today warning motorists that 18 Interstate rest areas will close July 21.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board is cutting the number of Interstate highway rest areas that VDOT operates from 42 to 23 because of the $2.6-billion revenue shortfall it is grappling with.
Electronic message signs notifying visitors that the facilities will close on July 21 are being posted at each location beginning today. VDOT has also updated its Web site and 511 traveler information system to reflect the closures.
To help truckers, VDOT plans to add 225 truck parking spaces at the remaining 23 rest areas and welcome centers on July 21.
The 18 rest areas slated to close July 21 are:
—I-64 East, Goochland
—I-64 West, Goochland
—I-85 North, Dinwiddie
—I-85 South Dinwiddie
—I-95 North, Ladysmith
—I-95 South, Ladysmith
—I-85 North, Alberta
—I-85 South, Alberta
—I-81 North, Rural Retreat
—I-81 South, Smyth
—I-81 North, Radford
—I-81 South, Troutville
—I-81 North, Mt. Sidney
—I-81 South, Mt. Sidney
—I-81 South, New Market
—I-95 North, Dale City (closed for cars)
—I-95 South, Dale City (closed for cars)
—I-66 East, Manassas
VDOT will keep the I-66 West Manassas Welcome Center open through the busy summer travel season, the state highway agency said, because it was the only welcome center being closed.
However, VDOT will close the I-66 Welcome Center Sept. 16, after the summer travel season. ¶
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Reader Reactions
gavaklla posted “I like the idea of private rest stops. I have seen others suggesting this, but have yet to hear someone say its a bad idea. Is there any reason Virginia should not do this?“
Virginia has been trying for several decades to do Private Rest stops,
Unfortunately, just like putting tolls on interstate 95, the feds won’t let them.
Other states have done it, Like the Maryland House and the Cheasapeake House.
Other states have tolls on their interstates so there is a loophole.
I think our politicians in the General Assembly either don’t want this to happen, or just lack the know-how to make it happen.
My guess is the former.
I like the idea of private rest stops. I have seen others suggesting this, but have yet to hear someone say its a bad idea. Is there any reason Virginia should not do this?
Once upon a time Governor Schwarzenegger was popular in California. Not any more. I believe that most Californians are sick and tired of illegal immigrants making the state incur further debt. The governor is making budget cuts left and right but still panders to the illegals. This after a few years ago when he praised the Minutemen. Not exactly consistent, like one would expect the Terminator to be.
CA libertarian, Well at least no one in your state is talking about closing state parks like we are in California. The governor of California wanted to eliminate welfare and everyone was up in arms over it. Guess California likes feeding, providing free health care and housing for illegal aliens. So close your parks and watch California get drug down the tubes.
Ca Libertarian - it is the difference between 1.5 billion deficit and 24.5 billion.
My family lives there. They get to work 2-3 days a month for free now. And the part they get paid, is now coming with an IOU. You are right, we dont have it so bad. But unless we want to hold the feet of the politicans to the fire, it can get that way.
mrright posted “compusa- something for nothing.Are you kidding me.Do you know what I pay in taxes to see it squandered? Mark Warner AND Tim Kaine have been whining about roads. etc for 8 yrs.Warner levied the LARGEST tax increase in the history of the Commonwealth ostensibly for ‘the roads.‘ Kaine inherited a 1.5 billion dollar surplus.What did he do with it?“
Let’s see, Virginia has a 70 plus billion dollar budget supported by fees, and tax collections - in good times, like prior to 2007 collections exceed expenditures when a world wide economic crash happens, expenditures always exceed collections. in 2006, Kaine inherited a budget surplus of about 1/70th of the Budget. in 2008 the tax collections fell by better than 10 percent in 2008 and 2009 or about 3/4 of a billion dollars, and has already hit that mark this year with more losses expected so a budget surplus two years ago of less than 1/70th of the budget doesn’t go very far.
And transportation has been in a funding crisis for 30 years, not 8. Look up what Wilder was doing in 1992 when transportation funding hit the skids.
Transportation is funded by the several taxes :
federal grants
state gas taxes
vehicle title fees
license tag fees
1/2-cent of the sales tax
But funding is mainly by the gax tax which hasn’t increased in 23 years, and also by new car titles and taxes which are almost non-existent with sales of new cars in the basement right now.
Look here to see how transportation is funded:
http://www.virginiaplaces.org/taxes/taxcar.html
Essentially, what you pay for transportation has not really changed in two decades. If you add in the inflation value, you pay much less now than you did 20 years go.
You are getting a free ride that will one day have to be funded - by your children and grandchildren because Virginians want to believe that they deserve such freebies.
You don’t want to pay for roads, and transportation services? Stop driving. Don’t buy fuel, don’t buy cars and tell the people who haul materials for your business to stop using the roads to deliver to you.
Then you can rest assured that you are spending no taxes for transportation.
I’ll bet your prices are not the same as they were in 1986, which is the last time VDOT’s major source of funding was increased.
Even closing the welcome centers there in some places, I see. At least you have welcome centers. In my state we have inspection stations at our borders. So while most states like VA have welcome centers upon entering, we have rejection centers.
Well at least no one in your state is talking about closing state parks like we are in California.
As someone who travels down 95 several times a year, I actually don’t use the rest stops all that often because I only want to stop the car when I need to refuel/eat. The prohibition of selling things (exceptions for vending items) in these state run rest stops makes them not a particularly convenient ammenity. It is a shame since they are relatively easy to enter and exit and the existence of a gas station/fast food place would probably not cause too much congestion. As it is, I have to play exit roulette at times getting off the interstate only to find that the station is much further off the road than I would prefer to drive. It would be nice if they would allow a vendor/vendors to have a concession at the rest stop in exchange for maintaning the facilities (at least the cleaning and supplies).
Reverend, you make a good point. I’m told, but cannot confirm, that one impediment is a prohibition in Federal Law against leasing rest areas on some Interstates to third-parties. Supposedly, Virginia’s Congressional Delegation is trying to have that changed, but I’ve no personal knowledge of the status of that effort.
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