The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
New Gov. Bob McDonnell got an early win Wednesday when state transportation officials reversed last year's widely criticized decision to close 19 rest stops throughout Virginia, enabling him to fulfill a campaign pledge to reopen them within 90 days of taking office.
The facilities - 18 highway rest stops and one welcome center - are to reopen in phases between mid-February and mid-April.
The state will use $3 million from an emergency reserve fund to pay for rest area operations for the remaining 5 1/2 months of the current fiscal year.
Officials estimate it could cost as much as $7.5 million to operate them next year. To reduce that expense, McDonnell said his administration is exploring using nonviolent inmates as workers, encouraging companies to adopt rest areas, and revising contracts with rest- stop vendors.
Last year's closure was intended to save $9 million as part of a larger budget-slashing strategy in response to the economic downturn.
McDonnell said reopening the roadside sites is a priority because they remain a central concern of residents and closing them could hamper economic development efforts.
"For travelers that come to Virginia that see tape across the entrance to the rest stop and a big 'Closed' sign, it's a bigger sign that Virginia is closed for business. It's exactly the opposite signal" McDonnell said he wants to send.
Virginia has a total of 42 rest areas and welcome centers. None of the closed facilities are in Hampton Roads.
Despite the news Wednesday, the state still has plenty of issues related to its highway system.
McDonnell has vowed to find a transportation funding compromise - which has eluded other governors - by privatizing state liquor stores, using offshore drilling royalties and tolls on some highways, among other steps.
But he's said that further action will have to wait until after the General Assembly session.
And the cuts Virginia made to its road-building budget continue to limit the state's ability to move forward on scores of pending construction projects.
A December survey released by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials highlights those conditions; it indicates Virginia has just six shovel-ready highway projects were another round of federal road dollars to flow, the lowest number among states on the list.
The dubious distinction found in the analysis comes months after Virginia was criticized last year for being the last state to dedicate its federal transportation stimulus funds and the last to move forward on obligating that money.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Why don't they just offer up
Why don't they just offer up the rest stops to chain restaurants? That way, they can build a McDonalds, Burger King, Sonic, whatever, right there on the grounds and they will pay to maintain the buildings, and areas surrounding them. It would be perfect.
That is a good idea. It
That is a good idea. It appears to work on the NJ turnpike. A Gas station, a fast food, a convenience store, I think they would jump at the chance.
Or maybe a nice Mom and Pop operation, to keep it in the state.
reality check
$3 million sounds like a lot of money to the average citizen and it is from that small perspective. However, keep in mind that $3 million will only build 3 miles of highway in the BEST of circumstances. In mountainous regions it can exceed well above $5 million per mile. That is reality. Now, if travelers are passing closed rest stops how motivated will they be to spend time here on vacation or divert business here? How many tax dollars are lost because of prejudice based on those closed rest stops. I'm no expert but imagine that the losses exceed the $3 million mark. We can moan and complain endlessly. It doesn't fix the issues to do so. My anger is far greater focused on the local government in Portsmouth than the GA in Richmond. The CC's shortsighted vision and addiction to federal subsidy money has a far greater impact on my life than saving $3 million to keep rest stops closed. All politics are local at the end of the day.
$3 million "is" a lot of money to most
It only takes 100 million to make a billion, so I guess that isn't a lot of money either. What you forget, those millions come out of our pocket. And cha-ching we have a billion!
why we have a $2 Billion deficit
We have a $2 Billion budget deficit because politicians don't know how to count in the hundred's of thousands, only in millions.
Fix the Roads
Streets, highways, and bridges falling to pieces. Drivers unable to maintain speed limits for fear of pot holes. Yet the priority is opening the bathrooms at ninteen interstate rest stops. Now that’s change we can believe in.
Action?
Don't forget the Goveror's recently announced actions; increase the speed limit, postpone any consideration of fixing the crisis in transportation for anotehr year. Priceless.
well, low voter turnout is
well, low voter turnout is one way to ensure Republican victories. More highway deaths equal less voters. It makes sense
WHAT??
WHAT??
cuts wouldn't be necessary if...
Cuts wouldn't be necessary and more funding would be available if we were not forced to educate illegals and pay for them going to our E.R.'s, as Obama admitted. If you add this to at least 7 Million of them in our jobs, you would think that Pelosi, Reid, Gutierrez, Obama and others would get the message that illegals are hurting our unemployed, states, individuals and economy!! We need our jobs back and it doesn't cost Billions of dollars either. Mandate E-Verify for all jobs, no more excuses!!!