Under Tim Kaine’s “leadership” as governor, he shuttered 19 rest areas along Virginia interstates because he couldn’t find the money to keep them open. He also refused to audit the Virginia Department of Transportation – thinking that the notion that there might be a waste of taxpayer dollars was, well, a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Enter Bob McDonnell.
Under the McDonnell administration not only have the rest areas been re-opened and $1.4 billion of revenue “found” at VDOT due to an audit, but, today, McDonnell announces that there will be enhanced services at Virginia rest areas due to increased partnership with the private sector:
Welcome center visitors will soon see ATMs and kiosks with interactive touch screens that provide additional information on many of Virginia’s top attractions and travel destinations. Motorists can also expect expanded vending operations with more choices for food, beverages and merchandise. These enhanced services will be implemented at no cost to VDOT under the agreement.
“As part of this innovative program, we see great opportunity to offset rest stop costs now and into the future,” said Governor McDonnell. “This contract represents an innovative initial step forward to enhance the travelling public’s experience and maximizing the revenue-generating assets of our rest areas within the confines of federal law. Partnering with the private sector will enable us to expand and improve the services that we offer visitors while saving taxpayer dollars.”
VDOT issued the request for proposal in March seeking new solutions as part of its Sponsorship, Advertising and Vending Enhancement (SAVE) program.
The new contract requires CRH to pay VDOT an annual guaranteed rights fee of approximately $2 million, an increase from the $1.7 million VDOT currently receives from vending and advertising. During the initial three-year contract, this annual fee will provide nearly $1 million in additional revenue to help offset costs for operating the rest areas. VDOT will also receive annual revenue-sharing payments based on a percentage of sales generated from sponsorship, advertising and vending operations. These revenue-sharing payments are expected to increase during the next several years as the economy improves and organizations realize the marketing opportunities presented by the SAVE program.
Kaine only saw one option: raise taxes or else. McDonnell used appropriate fiscal management and partnered with the private sector to enhance the service to Virginians and visitors.
If that’s not a microcosm for how the two major parties differ in policy and intellectual capacity and creativity, I don’t know what is.
