States Close Rest Stops to Save Money
Going on a road trip this summer? Get ready to hold it.
States are shuttering rest stops along their highways to save money as the recession squeezes state budgets. The most recent and glaring example is Virginia, which has decided to close 19 of its 42 rest-area facilities. Four of them are on I-95, a major East Coast travel corridor. Last year, 40 million people stopped at Virginia’s rest areas, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The Virginia DOT says the closings will save it $9 million a year.
AAA Mid-Atlantic has asked Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to reconsider the decision, citing not only the convenience issue but also safety implications. The organization says roads are safer when tired motorists have a place to stop.
Virginia isn’t the only state shutting down rest stops to save money. Two months ago, Vermont closed four of its 20 facilities, saving $900,000 a year; Colorado shut two of its 33 in June; and Maine closed two and contracted out the maintenance of five others, saving $690,000.
That’s small potatoes compared with Louisiana, though. The Bayou State has closed 24 of its 34 rest stops since 2000, saving $250,000 per facility but leaving motorists desperately looking for those fast food or gas station markers just so they can use a restroom.
States Close Rest Areas to Save Money (USA Today)
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seriously how much money can this be saving!? you just gonna see more people peeing on the side of the road or more bottles filled with "lemonade" and thats not the good kind
Thankfully NASA has provided us with the inspiration to overcome this situation. All drivers should wear diapers when driving cross-country.
Welcome to the Obama economy we're we don't allow time to read Congressional spending bills nor do we have a clue about how to create jobs.
Full Disclosure: I voted for the Fraud.
On one hand, this doesn't seem to be saving THAT much money, but any money saved I guess would be helpful. On the other hand, perhaps this will give highway-towns more guests that would normally have gone to a rest stop?