The following email alert was sent out August 2016 regarding a proposal by VDOT to open a truck stop in Markham, VA:

Dear Supporter,

Back in March, we told you about the VDOT plan to initiate work on a truck stop just west of the Markham exit off of Interstate 66. Since then, residents in the surrounding community have continued to express concern about the proposal and its impacts.

After taking a closer look at the project and an oft-cited 2015 study on statewide truck parking needs, we believe there is a lack of evidence supporting the Markham proposal (more on that below).

VDOT has scheduled a community meeting for Wednesday, August 31 from 6-8 pm at the Marshall Community Center located at 4133-A Rectortown Rd.

We have heard that VDOT is petitioning Fauquier County to pass a resolution in favor of the truck stop. So if you care about this issue, it’s critical to share your concerns with VDOT and especially with the county at the meeting next week.

Unanswered Questions

The site was originally developed (paved) in coordination with the construction of I-66. In recent communications, VDOT has suggested this area was always planned as a rest area. But a rest area for the public and a public truck stop are two vastly different uses with different impacts. After a thorough review, here are the questions that still plague us:

• Is it the public’s responsibility to subsidize the commercial trucking industry by providing free 24-hour truck stops? Can the private sector provide alternatives at a lower cost to tax payers?
• Should spending $700,000 or more on this project (plus annual maintenance) be a higher priority than investing in the other transportation infrastructure needs of the county?
• What are the safety and public health considerations?
• Where is the data to support VDOT’s assertion that a truck stop is needed between Marshall and Front Royal or that the private and public truck parking facilities in the region are at or near capacity? We do not believe the study provides evidence of this need. It is our understanding that facilities have been built in Front Royal since the collection of the data.
• Why would Fauquier County consider approving a project that’s in conflict with their Comprehensive Plan?

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send your comments to Ben Davison of VDOT, ben.davison@vdot.virginia.gov Please be sure to cc any comments to Marie Pham with the county, Marie.Pham@fauquiercounty.gov.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dan Holmes
Director of State Policy
The Piedmont Environmental Council
dholmes@pecva.org