Why close Virginia Rest Stops? Privatize

Today, Rep. Frank Wolf (Va-10) will be offering an amendment to the Transportation Appropriations Act to suspend the federal law that prohibits Virginia from contracting with private vendors to operate restaurants or service stations at Interstate rest stops. Currently, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Ohio are allowed to utilize private vendors at their rest stops.

For what seems like a great idea and something that will help generate money for the Commonwealth, Rep. Tom Perriello (Va-5) is opposed to the amendment offered by Wolf, and he is working to defeat the amendment.

Closing these rest areas put motorists’ safety at risk. If you are on a long road trip, you need to have an opportunity to stretch or take a nap in a safe area that is accessible to the Interstate. According to AAA, it is estimated that 100,000 police reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year, resulting in 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in losses.

Wouldn’t this be a wake-up call to allow this legislation to be passed? Instead, citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia will be facing danger every time they travel.

Call 202-224-3121 today and urge your Representatives to support Rep. Wolf’s amendment.