Virginia Reopens Shuttered Rest Stops

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During the downward spiral of the recession last year, we wrote about states closing their rest stops to plug budget holes. Now one of those states, Virginia, will reopen 19 of those facilities, according to Gov. Robert McDonnell.

The rest stops will reopen using private contributions from the state’s “adopt a rest stop” program, along with $3 million from the state’s maintenance reserve fund. McDonnell said in his announcement that he heard a lot of discontent about the shuttered rest stops while campaigning for governor against Timothy Kaine, who closed the rest stops to save money.

In June, the state chose to close 19 of its 42 rest stops to cut into a $4.6 billion budget shortfall, saving $500,000 per year for each facility’s operating expenses. Four stops will open by Feb. 17, eight more on March 17, and the final seven by April 17. All will employ nonviolent prison inmates.

We’d like to know from our readers who either live in Virginia or travel through the state: Did you miss the rest stops when they were closed? Are you relieved (no pun intended) to see them reopen?

Virginia to Reopen 19 Highway Rest Stops (Washington Post)