Dels. Matt Lohr (R-Broadway), Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), Steve Landes (R-Weyers Cave), Dickie Bell (R-Staunton), Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge) and Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) all joined in commending Gov. Bob McDonnell for keeping his promise to re-open rest areas throughout the Commonwealth.

Last month, McDonnell announced that all of Virginia’s 19 rest stops and welcome centers would begin to re-open in the middle of February and that all would be re-opened by April 15. He approved a plan that allows the Virginia Department of Transportation to use $3 million of its maintenance reserve fund which will keep the rest areas open until the end of this fiscal year.

In the meantime, VDOT will begin to revise its maintenance budget plan this spring, and the administration will work hard to identify long-term funding options.

During the campaign, Valley legislators and then candidate for Governor Bob McDonnell advocated the development of the “Adopt a Rest Stop” to allow private contributors to assist in operating costs.

Lohr, Landes, Cline, Gilbert, Saxman and Obenshain wrote letters to then Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer, insisting that the administration find creative ways to ensure that the areas remain open. Obenshain even launched a Website in an effort to root out VDOT waste in response to the closings.

On February 17, the first group of rest areas is set to reopen. Contractors are in the process of re-stocking and finishing maintenance work to get them re-opened on time. This first group includes the New Market rest area, soon to be followed by the Mount Sidney rest area next month.

On Monday, the Valley legislators reacted to the news.

"I commend Gov. Bob McDonnell on acting quickly on his campaign promise to get the Commonwealth's rest areas back open," states Landes.

"This action should please my constituents and send a signal to the Commonwealth's citizens and visitors that our state is open and inviting to business and tourists." says Landes, who submitted a bill in the General Assembly this year requiring the areas to be reopened.

In response to the news, Lohr comments, “The citizens across the Commonwealth spoke loudly and clearly that they wanted these rest areas reopened. I am delighted that Gov. McDonnell has made this a top priority of his new administration.”

Bell, who at the time was a candidate for the seat of former Del. Chris Saxman, says, “I believe that re-opening these rest areas is very important and I commend Gov. McDonnell for making this a priority. These rest areas are very important for tourists traveling through Virginia, and re-opening them will make traveling safer for all.”

In expressing support, Gilbert states, “I applaud Gov. McDonnell for keeping his word and ensuring that this service, that is so essential to our economy and public safety, is no longer the political football that it was in the previous administration.”

“By keeping his promise, Gov. McDonnell is making our roadways safer and more inviting,” says Obenshain, who met with former Gov. Tim Kaine in Richmond last year to discuss the issue. “Gov. McDonnell recognizes that our rest areas are a priority and has worked to get them back up and running.”

"The closure of the rest areas by Gov. Kaine endangered highway safety and damaged our reputation as a tourism-friendly state. I applaud Gov. McDonnell for keeping his promise to reopen the rest areas and ensuring safer travel on our Commonwealth's highways,” says Cline.