No matter what spin the state Roads Department puts on the issue, Nebraska s decision to cut its visitor centers in half along Interstate 80 will cause damage. Fewer visitor centers means less tourism. Our view The decision by the Roads Department to eliminate half of its visitor centers will cost the state tourism dollars. No matter what spin the state Roads Department puts on the issue, Nebraska s decision to cut its visitor centers in half along Interstate 80 will cause damage. Fewer visitor centers means less tourism.
Grand Island is one of the victims.
The visitor centers at the rest stops near Grand Island are being shut down permanently. The rest areas are being shut down for repairs. The state Roads Department has reasoned that with the increase in speed limits to 75 miles an hour, cars will travel further and shorter distances of time and make fewer stops at rest areas in the state. The fallacy in such thinking is that vehicles that might have been making rest stops outside of Nebraska because of the lower speed limits now will be making stops at rest areas inside the state. Fewer visitor centers does mean fewer opportunities for Nebraska communities to convince motorists to spend extra time and see the sights.