Virginia Tomorrow

Or at least at the 19 of them that are scheduled to be closed on July 21.

Norm Leahy at Tertium Quids notes that Delegate Bob Marshall has sent a letter to Congressman Frank Wolf saying this.

I would like to request that you consider introducing an amendment to the Transportation Appropriations Bill to suspend the fedeal law for one year which prohibits Virginia and other states from contracting with private restaurants or gas stations to operate at state owned rest stops on the interstates.

You may be aware that many of Virginias rest stops and welcome centers will close July 21, 2009, because of “budgetary restraints.”  I believe that the $8.6 million in needed funding to keep the rest stops open could have been found, but since that did not happen I am trying to find other ways to keep Virginia’s rest stops open (or to allow them to reopen as soon as possible.) 

Is this smart politics or what?

I happened to be driving on I-95 to Baltimore  today when I saw one of the flashing signs announcing the imminent closure of the upcoming rest stop. At 10:30 this morning, there were thirty five cars in the rest stop. On my way home this evening, the rest stop on the other side of the highway had 22 truckers.

What’s message is that flashing sign sending about Virginia to anyone driving on our roads?

In the middle of family vacation season?

This is potentially a high visibility issue.

I tend to be believe that the actual closure of the rest stops could have a political impact far greater than anyone has imagined.

Like Leahy, I’m suprised that the statewide candidates and more members of the legislature haven’t made

Keep the Rest Stops Open!

This summer’s political rallying cry.