Rest stops will re-open
By Tara Donaldson
Six months after state officials announced the closing of rest stops up and down Virginia interstates, they've reveres course.The Commonwealth Transportation Board has voted to reopen the 19 rest areas that had closed to save money.
Total savings to the state from the six-month closure: about $200,000.
Closing the rest stops, including those at Dale City on Interstate 95 and at Manassas on Interstate 66, was expected to save $9 million a year.
But Martin Krebs, a VDOT manager, said Tuesday that the short closure and the cleanup costs have changed the numbers significantly.
VDOT has saved about $3.2 million in property management costs since the July closures, but it will cost about $3 million to "reopen, operate and maintain" the rest stops after six months behind barricades.
Krebs confirmed that means the state saved only about $200,000 from the controversial move that enraged politicians and motorists alike.
There is an additional $70,000 in savings from utilities, but it is estimated that the rest stops will cost $7 million to operate in fiscal year 2011.
A VDOT press release states that "long-term funding for the rest areas will be identified" in coming months.
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) announced the reversal last week and said the rest stops will begin reopening in mid-February.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton, the former chairman of the Prince William Board supervisors, told "The Gainesville Times" on Monday that he is pleased with the decision.
"We appreciate the Commonwealth Transportation Board supporting Governor McDonnell and acting so quickly,” he said. “We intend to have all the rest stops opened in 90 days."
Krebs said VDOT workers and contractors have already been visiting the rest stops to assess their condition.
Highway ramps leading to the rest areas had been barricaded completely. Officials had been concerned that if drivers were allowed to use the parking lots with no security guards or attendants on duty, the empty facilities would turn into sites for crime and vandalism.
It's been six months since employees have entered the rest stop areas and it was unclear what they'd find when they went back, but Krebs said so far, it all looks OK.
"Preliminary reports from the first four … indicate that the buildings and grounds are generally in the same condition as they were prior to closure," he said.
All of the rest stops will be open by April 15.