Virginia to Reopen 19 Rest Stops
Virginia officials plan to reopen the state’s 19 closed rest stops by May, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted unanimously Wednesday to reopen the rest stops, which the state had closed last year to cut expenses.
The state will pay $3 million out of its maintenance reserve fund for the rest areas, the Post said. It will also use private contributions, through an “adopt a rest stop” program, and will employ prison inmates at the rest stops.
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) had promised during his campaign to reopen the rest stops, the Post said. He took office Jan. 16.
American Trucking Associations, the Virginia Trucking Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association all praised McDonnell for leading the board to reopen the rest areas.
In a joint statement, ATA and VTA the associations said that the move increase highway safety for truck drivers and the motoring public.
Under the board’s plan, the rest stops will reopen in groups between Feb. 17 and April 17.