In The News

Virginia governor announces long-term plan to pay for rest areas

Now that the state of Virginia has reopened 19 of its shuttered rest areas, Gov. Bob McDonnell has launched a long-term plan to pay for them.

Jeff Caldwell, chief of communications for the Virginia Department of Transportation, told Land Line on Friday, July 9, that the costs of reopening the rest areas are currently being funding by the agency’s maintenance program. However, Caldwell said Gov. McDonnell has instructed VDOT to work with agencies “to explore opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation” needed to operate these rest areas.

A year ago, the rest areas and the critical parking they provided truckers were closed because of severe “funding challenges.”

“Virginia is committed to keeping our rest areas open for the safety and convenience for all travelers,” Caldwell said. More than 30 million visitors pass through these rest areas each year.

The governor’s comprehensive plan has four strategies to reduce costs and raise new revenues at rest areas. These include reducing contracting costs at all 38 rest areas and welcome centers; attracting private sponsors to support signage, interior advertising space and vending; using transportation enhancement grants to develop partnerships between tourism entities along Virginia’s interstates; and directing the Virginia Transportation Research Council to study “alternatives to public funding and operations” of the state’s rest areas.

The VTRC study would look at funding options “if specific sections of federal code were amended” to allow commercialization at the state’s rest areas.

“We will continue developing ideas that can retain our current facilities, increase motorist amenities, and stretch taxpayers’ transportation investments as far as possible,” Caldwell said.

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