Governor seeks private firm to run transportation hubs

RICHMOND

After outsourcing highway rest area vending services, Gov. Bob McDonnell is again turning to the private sector in search of a partner to run Virginia's transportation operation centers.

The governor Monday announced a solicitation for companies to make suggestions on how to improve Virginia's five regional transportation centers, which monitor traffic conditions, provide information on road conditions to motorists and coordinate responses to incidents.

Virginia currently has centers in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Salem and Staunton. Some have already functioned under private contracts.

"We must use technology to get the most of our transportation system," McDonnell said in a statement. "The end goal is find and employ state-of-the-art technology to keep traffic moving, manage congestion and respond to incidents."

Officials said the aim is to integrate the centers.

Last August, the governor signed a deal with a private company to provide vending machines and other services at the state's 42 rest stops that officials said guarantees the state about $2 million annually. Officials said at the time that's a projected increase from the $1.7 million Virginia now gets from rest area vending and advertising.

Under that arrangement, motorists who stop at state rest areas and welcome centers should have access to ATMs, interactive information kiosks and more food, beverage and merchandise vending options.

McDonnell fulfilled a campaign pledge when he reopened 19 shuttered rest stops early in his term, saying he would find ways to defray operating expenses. Under federal law, Virginia isn't permitted to offer commercial services such as restaurants and fueling stations at its rest areas.