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By KELLY HANNON
Driving through Maryland on Interstate 95 recently, Mary Lee Carter of Spotsylvania County stopped at a rest area.
There were restrooms, of course, but she was surprised to see restaurants, gas stations, tourism kiosks, a picnic area and vendors selling sunglasses.
"It was wonderful," said Carter, a former Spotsylvania supervisor.
"One stop certainly saves time on the road. It gives families an opportunity to have something to eat, something to drink, and to take care of the necessities," Carter said.
Why don't we have this in Virginia? Carter wondered.
The answer is federal law, and the prohibition is getting renewed attention in Virginia as budget cuts force
One of the rest areas slated to close is in Caroline County on I-95.
Since the news broke, numerous residents and elected officials have suggested that VDOT turn the rest areas into some form of public-private partnership, letting revenue from the sale of gas, food and drink pay to keep the rest areas open.
But the barrier is not VDOT. It is Congress.
VDOT has supported commercializing rest areas long before the current budget crunch.
So far, VDOT has been unsuccessful at finding a way around the federal ban.
Congress needs to change federal law or offer some form of special waiver for Virginia, given its budget difficulties, said Jeff Caldwell, VDOT spokesman.
"That's in their purview, but it's something they have to decide," Caldwell said.
Today, the only food and drink sold at Virginia rest areas comes from vending machines.
That's the design of the Federal Highway Administration. Federal law prevents the public from being charged for goods or services at safety rest areas on the federal interstate system, although the law makes an exception for vending machines and telephones.
Other states have gotten around the ban by locating commercialized rest areas on toll roads. Others were allowed to keep commercialized rest areas open because they existed before the federal ban was passed.
Maryland charges tolls on a section of I-95 called the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. This is where Maryland has two commercialized "service plazas," Maryland House and Chesapeake House.
Carter thinks she stopped at Maryland House.
In Maryland, the plazas are located in the interstate median, accessible to northbound and southbound traffic. They offer food, fuel and retail items, ATMs, restrooms and tourism centers.
About 5.4 million vehicles stop at Maryland House and Chesapeake House each year, raising $40 million in food and beverage revenue, and $16 million in fuel revenue.
Since Virginia has no plan to impose tolls on the general interstate lanes, it has to find another way around the ban. Lobbying seems to be the only option.
Last week, the Commonwealth Transportation Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting the commercialization of rest areas in Virginia. The resolution asks Gov. Tim Kaine to solicit the state's congressional delegation to obtain a waiver for Virginia.
During a press conference held in Spotsylvania this week on another subject, Kaine said he would keep an open mind on the issue, and acknowledged that owners of restaurants and gas stations located near interstate exit ramps may be opposed to privatization.
Carter, who represents the Fredericksburg area on the board, said she supports this resolution "125 percent."
A major tourism industry group supports keeping the rest areas open, with or without commercialization.
Approximately 45 million people use Virginia's rest areas each year--and 28 million of them stop at the rest areas that would close under the VDOT proposal, said Megan Svajda, director of government relations for the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association.
Rest areas showcase Virginia tourism attractions. Without them, the $18 billion industry is worried that revenue will drop, Svajda said, which could have a ripple effect on state services.
"Those are dollars that are collected and used to pay for schools, roads, health care, you name it," Svajda said.
The organization would prefer that VDOT shift the cuts elsewhere. "It comes down to priorities," Svajda said. "VDOT's core mission is to provide comfort and safety to travelers. Part of that is providing the comfort."
Virginia faces a $2.6 billion gap between state road needs and funding from 2009 to 2014. VDOT's proposal to close 25 rest areas indefinitely would save $12 million a year.
The Fredericksburg rest area would remain open, but rest areas at Dale City and Ladysmith would close.
Opening restaurants and gas stations at the Ladysmith rest area would almost certainly affect traffic stopping at Exit 104 in Carmel Church for food and gas.
Gary Wilson, Caroline County director of economic development, said the Board of Supervisors has not taken a position yet on the commercialization of rest areas.
"They're trying to determine what the county policy should be regarding this," he said.
Carter said not every rest area in Virginia needs to be commercialized.
A few stops with restaurants and gas stations could raise enough money to keep them all open, she said.
"Let's find a way to make it work so we can serve our citizens better," she said.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
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The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Caroline County Community Center at 17202 Richmond Turnpike in Milford.
The proposed rest-area After a presentation by VDOT Commissioner David Ekern, the hearing |
