Virginia

[VTGoose]

I was driving I-81 in VA this past weekend and had a random question that might have been answered elsewhere: Did there used to be a rest area northbound somewhere around exits 200 or 205? Besides the 103-mile gap between Ironto and Mt Sidney, I noticed 2 other clues:

Not that I know of, and my knowledge of I-81 goes back 50 years.

The missing Fairfield NB rest area is a hole in the system, and there have been proposals to build it. . . I would like to see it formally studied and scoped for costs and impacts.

Things have gotten better with the addition of more businesses at more exits, such as the McDonald's at Fairfield, but for the longest time seasoned travelers heading north up I-81 from Roanoke and the New River Valley knew to hold off on large amounts of coffee before and during the trip. It was a test of who had iron kidneys and could hold out to the rest area north of Staunton or on the other side of Afton Mountain. I believe VDOT did look at fixing the problem a number of years ago but there were problems with property acquisition in an appropriate location.

[Beltway]

Things have gotten better with the addition of more businesses at more exits, such as the McDonald's at Fairfield, but for the longest time seasoned travelers heading north up I-81 from Roanoke and the New River Valley knew to hold off on large amounts of coffee before and during the trip. It was a test of who had iron kidneys and could hold out to the rest area north of Staunton or on the other side of Afton Mountain. I believe VDOT did look at fixing the problem a number of years ago but there were problems with property acquisition in an appropriate location.

That is a good point, and true of many rural Interstate highways nowadays.

There is no southbound rest area on I-95 near Carson, VA, but the Davis Truck Plaza at VA-602 Exit 33 is convenient to access and has all services including restaurants, fuel and large public restrooms.  Plus plenty of parking if you just want to stop and rest for a bit.

[jmacswimmer]

Things have gotten better with the addition of more businesses at more exits, such as the McDonald's at Fairfield, but for the longest time seasoned travelers heading north up I-81 from Roanoke and the New River Valley knew to hold off on large amounts of coffee before and during the trip. It was a test of who had iron kidneys and could hold out to the rest area north of Staunton or on the other side of Afton Mountain. I believe VDOT did look at fixing the problem a number of years ago but there were problems with property acquisition in an appropriate location.

That is a good point, and true of many rural Interstate highways nowadays.

There is no southbound rest area on I-95 near Carson, VA, but the Davis Truck Plaza at VA-602 Exit 33 is convenient to access and has all services including restaurants, fuel and large public restrooms.  Plus plenty of parking if you just want to stop and rest for a bit.

Thanks for the info. So I wonder if those next rest area signs I mentioned were originally placed assuming that a NB facility would eventually be built around Fairfield? (And then VDOT later patched the one by Troutville, but not by Jerry's Run?)

Personally I always prefer using on-highway rest areas/service plazas even though there's services off most exits nowadays, as has been pointed out. But I'm probably in the minority with that opinion

[plain]

Hmmmm....

https://www.nbc12.com/2020/02/19/new-app-can-be-used-toll-payments-virginia-highways/

[Beltway]

Thanks for the info. So I wonder if those next rest area signs I mentioned were originally placed assuming that a NB facility would eventually be built around Fairfield? (And then VDOT later patched the one by Troutville, but not by Jerry's Run?)
Personally I always prefer using on-highway rest areas/service plazas even though there's services off most exits nowadays, as has been pointed out. But I'm probably in the minority with that opinion

I am in favor of having both.  The highway safety rest areas are directly connected to the highway, making them simpler to use.

[Mapmikey]

I was driving I-81 in VA this past weekend and had a random question that might have been answered elsewhere: Did there used to be a rest area northbound somewhere around exits 200 or 205? Besides the 103-mile gap between Ironto and Mt Sidney, I noticed 2 other clues:

-The "Next Rest Area" sign on 81 NB opposite the SB Troutville rest area looks like the mileage was patched over to reflect distance to Mt Sidney:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4682889,-79.8121033,3a,75y,70.6h,86.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-p62NSpMXiW0oSs_F0gwpw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1?hl=en

-The "Next Rest Area" sign on 64 EB approaching the Jerry's Run welcome center shows 69 miles to the next area on 81 NB, which would be right around MM 205 during the 64/81 overlap:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8002996,-80.2038668,3a,75y,70.02h,84.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suVut9LlZLvoave6o9QGQjA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1?hl=en

The Jerrys Run sign is supposed to be 96 miles, not 69.

The covered 76 miles used to say 103 miles when the Rest Area near Weyers Cave was closed for a period when Virginia shut some of their rest areas down.  When the rest areas reopened, they patched the 76 on that sign.

[Beltway]

All this work to get the limited access right-of-way lines moved to accommodate the I-95 widening between VA-10 and VA-288!

http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2020/feb/reso/3.pdf
RESOLUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD
February 19, 2020
Title: Limited Access Control Changes (LACCs) I-95 Auxiliary Lanes (Northbound and Southbound) between Route 10 and Route 288 Chesterfield County
. . . . . . .

It will be a welcome improvement.

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/richmond/i-95_improvements_in_chesterfield.asp
The proposed $29 million project will add auxiliary travel lanes on I-95 north and south between Rt. 288 and Rt. 10 in Chesterfield County for approximately 1.2 miles.

Construction starts in FY2022 per the SYIP.
. . . . . . . .

Of interest for highway historians --
WHEREAS, on October 4, 1956, the State Highway Commission, predecessor to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), designated the Interstate Highway System to be  Limited Access Highways in accordance with then Article 3, Chapter 1, Title 33 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, and established the limited access line locations and limits as "the final locations of said routes, including all necessary grade separations, interchanges, ramps, etc." ; and 

[Beltway]

Major project planned to relieve congestion and assist industrial development.

I-95 AND WILLIS RD INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS
FROM: NORTH OF INTERCHANGE TO: SOUTH OF INTERCHANGE
Jurisdiction  Chesterfield County
                            Estimated Cost (Thousands)   Schedule
Prelim. Eng. (PE)               $3,800                      Complete
Right of Way (RW)             $3,200                      Underway
Construction (CN)            $40,000                      FY2021
Total Estimate                  $47,000

http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/lineitemDetails.aspx?syp_scenario_id=247&line_item_id=1459205
. . . . . . .

I don't see a project website yet, but at that cost, the tight diamond interchange should see a major expansion and maybe a new ramp or two.

[1995hoo]

....

Personally I always prefer using on-highway rest areas/service plazas even though there's services off most exits nowadays, as has been pointed out. But I'm probably in the minority with that opinion

I prefer rest areas for restroom breaks. I really don't like stopping at a restaurant or gas station solely to use the restroom.

[Beltway]

I prefer rest areas for restroom breaks. I really don't like stopping at a restaurant or gas station solely to use the restroom.

Some of them make it easy, like the Davis Service Center that I mentioned, large rest rooms that are off a hallway so you don't have to walk past the cash registers.   Even so, I typically buy something.

It takes some scouting to find these establishments in advance.

[VTGoose]

I prefer rest areas for restroom breaks. I really don't like stopping at a restaurant or gas station solely to use the restroom.

Some of them make it easy, like the Davis Service Center that I mentioned, large rest rooms that are off a hallway so you don't have to walk past the cash registers.   Even so, I typically buy something.

It takes some scouting to find these establishments in advance.

For the longest time, White's Truck Stop at Raphine was about the only game in town, but that was a whole experience to stop there (and the place has continued to expand with more and more services). Before the advent of cell phones, that was the stopping point for returning school field trips down the valley (such as to Luray or Monticello). A phone call started the phone tree back home so parents knew when to show up at the school to meet the buses. It was a two-hour trip from there to Blacksburg so people could plan accordingly.

[Roadsguy]

I just noticed that if I-74 in Virginia ever sees the light of day (i.e. if WV builds at least part of their segment connecting to I-77), then I-74 and I-77 would be concurrent for their entire lengths in Virginia. Would this be the first whole-state concurrency, at least of significant length? (I-95/495 in DC technically exists, but of course is infamously short.)

[sprjus4]

I just noticed that if I-74 in Virginia ever sees the light of day (i.e. if WV builds at least part of their segment connecting to I-77), then I-74 and I-77 would be concurrent for their entire lengths in Virginia. Would this be the first whole-state concurrency, at least of significant length? (I-95/495 in DC technically exists, but of course is infamously short.)

I-80 and I-90 across Indiana comes close, but they are separated on the very western side outside Chicago.

Ditto with the two interstates in Ohio, again except on the eastern side near Cleveland.

[LM117]

Sen. Mark Warner is pushing for more federal funding for I-81.

https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Sen-Warner-calls-for-more-federal-funding-for-I-81-in-Virginia-568179001.html

[LM117]

The latest bill to raise the Reckless Driving threshold has finally passed both houses of the General Assembly.

https://www.roanoke.com/news/politics/general-assembly-notebook-roanoke-county-senator-s-bill-to-change/article_3f771175-22c1-5288-b6ff-e48db9376609.html

RICHMOND – It's been a long journey, but Sen. David Suetterlein's bill to raise the reckless driving threshold has passed the legislature.

It's the fifth year that Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, has sponsored this measure, which would increase from 80 to 85 mph the threshold for reckless driving in areas of Virginia where a 70 mph limit is posted. The House of Delegates passed his Senate Bill 63 on 85-14 vote, and the Senate passed it 25-14.

Both chambers also passed a companion bill from Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax. Both bills head to the governor's desk.

Under Virginia's driving laws, reckless driving is 20 mph over the speed limit. What Suetterlein is trying to address is more of an issue on the interstates, where speed limits may be set at 70 mph. So going 11 mph over is considered a reckless driving offense.

If a police officer clocks a driver going over 80 mph in Virginia, that person faces a misdemeanor charge that can carry up to a year in jail or a $2,500 fine. While offenders may not get thrown behind bars, and judges will reduce the charge, drivers may hire lawyers because of the possible punishment.

"For too long, Virginia has had overly punitive punishments for going 11 miles over the speed limit on certain highways,"  Suetterlein said.

In past years, Suetterlein's bill passed the Senate, but died in a House subcommittee dealing with criminal matters. The subcommittee is now controlled by Democrats, although a handful of Democrats opposed to Suetterlein's proposal continue to vote against it this year.

"In the past, a very small group of opposition had been able to thwart the bill,"  Suetterlein said.

Took long enough...

[sprjus4]

^

Should have been passed back in 2010 when the speed limit was increased to 70 mph.

Glad to finally see this getting done.

[LM117]

^

Should have been passed back in 2010 when the speed limit was increased to 70 mph.

Glad to finally see this getting done.

Agreed.

[VTGoose]

The latest bill to raise the Reckless Driving threshold has finally passed both houses of the General Assembly.

https://www.roanoke.com/news/politics/general-assembly-notebook-roanoke-county-senator-s-bill-to-change/article_3f771175-22c1-5288-b6ff-e48db9376609.html

In past years, Suetterlein's bill passed the Senate, but died in a House subcommittee dealing with criminal matters. The subcommittee is now controlled by Democrats, although a handful of Democrats opposed to Suetterlein's proposal continue to vote against it this year.

Took long enough...

Want to bet that those in opposition are traffic-court attorneys who make decent coin from reckless driving cases . . .

[1995hoo]

The latest bill to raise the Reckless Driving threshold has finally passed both houses of the General Assembly.

https://www.roanoke.com/news/politics/general-assembly-notebook-roanoke-county-senator-s-bill-to-change/article_3f771175-22c1-5288-b6ff-e48db9376609.html

In past years, Suetterlein's bill passed the Senate, but died in a House subcommittee dealing with criminal matters. The subcommittee is now controlled by Democrats, although a handful of Democrats opposed to Suetterlein's proposal continue to vote against it this year.

Took long enough...

Want to bet that those in opposition are traffic-court attorneys who make decent coin from reckless driving cases . . .

A former member of the House of Delegates who opposed these efforts, and who was involved in sponsoring those absurd "abusive driver fees" some years back, was indeed a traffic defense attorney (I'm not sure if that's still his practice area since he joined a large law firm's Tysons office).

[Beltway]

Want to bet that those in opposition are traffic-court attorneys who make decent coin from reckless driving cases . . .

Why will there necessarily be any reduction in the number of reckless tickets issued? 

A small but substantial number of drivers exceed 80 today, if not well exceed, and that is based on observation of freeway traffic while driving; and it has been years since I saw one of them get stopped by a police officer.

Also there are at least 5 ways to get a reckless ticket other than the speed threshold.

[jakeroot]

Not super familiar with VA politics...what else needs to happen to ensure that threshold is raised to 85? Governor's signature?

[LM117]

Not super familiar with VA politics...what else needs to happen to ensure that threshold is raised to 85? Governor's signature?

Yep. Once he signs it, it's a done deal.

[Alps]

Want to bet that those in opposition are traffic-court attorneys who make decent coin from reckless driving cases . . .

Why will there necessarily be any reduction in the number of reckless tickets issued? 

A small but substantial number of drivers exceed 80 today, if not well exceed, and that is based on observation of freeway traffic while driving; and it has been years since I saw one of them get stopped by a police officer.

Also there are at least 5 ways to get a reckless ticket other than the speed threshold.

There will be a small reduction in tickets, but most importantly, it raises the threshold high enough that the casual driver following the flow of traffic is unlikely to accidentally drive "recklessly".

[Beltway]

A small but substantial number of drivers exceed 80 today, if not well exceed, and that is based on observation of freeway traffic while driving; and it has been years since I saw one of them get stopped by a police officer.
Also there are at least 5 ways to get a reckless ticket other than the speed threshold.

There will be a small reduction in tickets, but most importantly, it raises the threshold high enough that the casual driver following the flow of traffic is unlikely to accidentally drive "recklessly".

Why would there be any reduction in tickets, when 99+% of the current violators are not being stopped?

Anyone who can't control having 11 mph of overspeeding needs remedial driver training.

[jakeroot]

99+% of the current violators are not being stopped?

[citation needed]