VDOT seeks to retain two rest areas, but discontinue overnight truck parking

In response to industry requests, VDOT will propose replacing the “two-hour” commercial parking rule in rest areas with “no overnight parking” and will replace 225 truck parking spaces lost to facility closures by reconfiguring parking lots at some remaining facilities.

By BARB KAMPBELL
The Trucker Staff

5/21/2009

Truckers that drive in Virginia who were concerned about the possible closure of rest areas in the state and having a more difficult time finding a place to park got somewhat better news May 20 than what had initially been proposed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).

Plans to save $12 million annually by closing 25 of the commonwealth’s 42 rest areas have been altered to address concerns about truck parking and travel distance between facilities on Interstate 81, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Six rest areas initially slated to close will remain open, including four along the I-81 corridor (Radford south, Ironto north, Fairfield south and New Market north).

This would reduce the total number of rest areas from 42 to 23.

VDOT proposes to address truck parking concerns by retaining the two Interstate 95 Dale City truck-only facilities in Northern Virginia, according to a VDOT news release May 20.

Jeffrey Caldwell, chief of communications at VDOT, told The Trucker the decisions will be finalized between now and July 1. The VDOT proposals will be decided by CTB.

The commonwealth would also pursue federal law changes to allow future rest area commercialization.

If approved by the CTB, these changes represent $9 million in annual savings and will begin in July 2009.

Barb Kampbell of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at barbkampbell@thetrucker.com.

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