
The Virginia Department of Transportation has canceled plans to build a new truck-only rest area off Interstate 66 because of public outcry.
Back in 2015, VDOT conducted a truck parking study and concluded that the Interstate 66 corridor required at least 500 additional parking spaces for commercial tractor trailers. The study led to a proposal to build a rest area with truck-only parking along westbound Interstate 66 near Markham.
The proposed rest area would have added 22 truck parking spots and several portable toilets and cost the state $800,000.
Although the number of new spots was minuscule to what the study deemed necessary, it was better than the alternative of no new parking.
But some local residents felt otherwise. So much, in fact, that their outcries caused the state to cancel the proposal altogether.
According to FauquierNow.com, residents were concerned that the truck-only rest area “could do irreparable environmental, scenic and wildlife damage.”
More than 100 residents showed up to VDOT’s public meeting about the project to complain about potential “truck noise” and “fumes” that the project would bring to the area.
One landowner, Thomas D. Peterson, who owns 45 acres near the proposed rest area, was one of the largest critics of the plan. He said the rest area was unnecessary and would be incompatible with the rural surroundings.
“This is a dramatic change over its current use. This whole area is beautiful and scenic,” he said. He also argued that the $800,000 would be better spent on other projects.
Despite the response to nix the project, VDOT officials say that the truck-parking shortage is still on their radar.
“This decision should in no way be taken to indicate the Department does not consider the truck parking shortage a serious public safety issue,” said VDOT engineer Mark Nesbit.
The agency says they’ll explore other options, such as putting up signs that show “real-time information” on available truck parking in other areas. If that doesn’t work, they may reconsider the Markham rest area proposal, Nestbit added.