No Rest

Published July 12, 2009 at 4:01 a.m.
The closure of 19 rest areas along Virginia’s major highways has received as much attention as any transportation issue since the region’s original inhabitants blazed the first trail. Many have complained. Some have raised safety concerns, as long-distance drivers will have fewer opportunities to catch restorative winks. Economic reality gave state officials few options. Closing the stops rates among the least bad of the available choices. The Commonwealth Transportation Board would like to privatize the areas, but Virginia needs federal permission to do so. Private stops in other states were “grandfathered” when the feds prohibited them elsewhere in the interstate network. Led by Reps. Eric Cantor and Bobby Scott, Virginia’s congressional delegation is applying bipartisan pressure on behalf of high-speed rail. A similar effort regarding private rest areas would be welcome. It also might be easier said than done. Businesses near stops probably would not relish the prospect of competitors located not off the interstates but on them. The concerns may be understandable, but privatization remains an attractive alternative.


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