More stuff

Travellers through Virginia will soon see more concession services at highway rest stops. The state has awarded a contract to a Pennsylvania-based catering company to sell food, drinks and merchandise at Virginia highway rest areas.

CRH Catering of Connellsville, Pa., will pay the Virginia Department of Transportation about $2 million a year for vending and advertising rights at the state's 42 rest areas and welcome centers. CRH will provide ATM machines and interactive kiosks at the rest stops, as well as more choices for food, souvenirs and on-the-road needs.

Joe Cordaro, president of CRH, told The Associated Press the changes won't be immediate after his company takes over starting Thursday. CRH has 120 days to get things up and running. The company also manages vending and advertising at some rest areas in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"There will be a greater selection of food. We'd like to get into (selling) ice cream, 'Virginia is for Lovers' merchandise in some locations - where the space will allow," Cordaro said.

For the state, it means an additional $1 million over three years to help defray the costs of operating the rest stops which were closed in budget-cutting moves in late 2009. The state currently makes about $1.7 million per year from vending and advertising at the rest stops.

The initial contract with CRH is for three years with an option to renew for up to four years. As part of the contract, the transportation agency will receive a share of the revenue from sponsorship, advertising and vending operations.

Nineteen rest stops had been closed in 2009 under Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine in a budget-cutting move. VDOT began soliciting bids for operating the rest stops in March as part of an initiative to make the state's rest stops more self-sustaining.

CRH already provides limited vending services at 30 Virginia rest stops.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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