HB584: Highway rest areas and residency offices; VDOT to reopen.

HOUSE BILL NO. 584
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 12, 2010
A BILL to require the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to reopen certain Interstate Highway System rest areas and VDOT residency offices and to prohibit closure of any Interstate Highway System welcome center.
Patron-- Landes

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  § 1. That the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) shall forthwith reopen any and all Interstate Highway System rest areas and VDOT residency offices in the Commonwealth that were closed during 2009.

§ 2. That VDOT is prohibited from closing any Interstate Highway System welcome center in the Commonwealth in operation on the effective date of this act.

2. That the Office of the Secretary of Transportation shall examine options for privatization and alternate funding of rest areas, to include an examination of private sector "adopt-a-rest area" programs and the use of inmate labor to clean and maintain rest areas.

3. That any money needed to reopen the rest areas and residency offices shall come from the Central Office of the Virginia Department of Transportation.

4. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.