Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Virginia rankles motorists by closing half of all rest-stops amidst budget woes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/report-virginia-rankles-motorists-by-closing-half-of-all-rest-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/report-virginia-rankles-motorists-by-closing-half-of-all-rest-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/report-virginia-rankles-motorists-by-closing-half-of-all-rest-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Motorists traveling through Virginia take note: It's time to get used to crossing your legs just a wee bit tighter on long trips through the Old Dominion as the Virginia Department of Transportation has closed nearly half of all its interstate rest areas. The cited reason? Budgetary shortfalls... what else?

According to VDOT, the closure of these 18 rest areas will save $9 million per year and will be joined by delayed construction projects and a slew of laid off workers. Virginia politicians have apparently been arguing the issue for months and a suitable compromise has yet to be reached.

In addition to the obvious loss of restroom choices, critics argue that the shuttering of rest stops may have a negative impact on the safety of travelers as weary drivers and tired truckers will have far fewer places to stop for some shuteye or to get a quick coffee. With more and more states facing severe budget shortfalls, could your state be next? Click past the break for a press release and a full list of closed VA rest areas. Thanks for the tip, Robin!

[Source: Roanoke.com]

Continue reading REPORT: Virginia rankles motorists by closing half of all rest-stops amidst budget woes

REPORT: Virginia rankles motorists by closing half of all rest-stops amidst budget woes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>vdotvirginiavirginia department of transportationvirginia rest stopsVirginiaDepartmentOfTransportationVirginiaRestStopsThu, 23 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19107027/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/23/report-virginia-rankles-motorists-by-closing-half-of-all-rest-s/19107027/article-detail.xml 19107027 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/vdot-rest-area_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/vdot-rest-area.jpg <![CDATA[Virginia goes back-and-forth on new speeding countermeasure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/virginia-goes-back-and-forth-on-new-speeding-countermeasure/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/virginia-goes-back-and-forth-on-new-speeding-countermeasure/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/virginia-goes-back-and-forth-on-new-speeding-countermeasure/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I once worked with the manic guy who would paint the lines on the streets of my small hometown. Our work was decidedly one-dimensional, despite his art degree, and our small painting rig was not meant for big striping jobs, especially curvy roads. To create a radius, we'd set up guide strings and make a smooth arc. It didn't always work out, and my friends would rib me mercilessly after trying to follow the crazy angular path we'd sprayed.

Laugh all you want, friends, but according to Virginia's Department of Transportation, we were on to something. The VDOT is trying a method it says has been successful at reducing motorist speeds on Australian and UK roads with heavy pedestrian traffic.

There's no mistaking VDOT's new lines, they're wide, white, and zig-zag right down the middle of the lane. It may confuse some drivers at first, but the hope is that they'll slow down while exclaiming "what the...?" Right now, the lines are only at one or two intersections, with the lines starting about 500 feet from where the two roads come together. If the low-cost move meets with success, more intersections will be getting painted up. Press release after the jump.

[Source: VDOT via WTOP]

Continue reading Virginia goes back-and-forth on new speeding countermeasure

Virginia goes back-and-forth on new speeding countermeasure originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>traffic accidentstraffic calmingtraffic linestraffic safetyTrafficAccidentsTrafficCalmingTrafficLinesTrafficSafetyvdot zigzagVdotZigzagvirginia department of transportationvirginia dotVirginiaDepartmentOfTransportationVirginiaDotzigzag stripingzigzag trafficZigzagStripingZigzagTrafficThu, 23 Apr 2009 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1522964/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/23/virginia-goes-back-and-forth-on-new-speeding-countermeasure/1522964/article-detail.xml 1522964 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/vdotzig-zag-trail-markings_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/vdotzig-zag-trail-markings.jpg -1 2