Are rest areas a thing of the past?

[lamsalfl]

They seem to be fading away.  Not building them on new roads... closing on others...

Some states seem to do very well in providing rest areas though.  Florida and Alabama come to mind.  Although I-22 doesn't have any.  Mississippi is pretty devoid of them.  I-59... the highway the biggest need for them, and they are scarce. 

[lamsalfl]

Just found this link too: 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iGylTD5xSVhKntRutYQHxUdKbwCAD9996FDO0

It has information about several states.

[Mergingtraffic]

Connecticut is going to remodel a lot of theirs, plus negotiations are underway to replace McDonalds with Subway and Dunkin Donuts on the rest areas along I-95 and I-395.

They also plan to change their fuel provider from Mobil to something else.  Also, they want to improve the decelration and acceleration lanes at the rest areas on the Merritt & Wilbur Cross Parkways in the state.

More info found here:

www.ctrestareas.org

[lamsalfl]

I really like service plazas on Turnpikes.  At least we don't have to worry about them going away.

[mightyace]

I don't know if they'll disappear completely, but they do seem to be getting thinner on the ground.

In one respect they aren't needed as much as they used to be.  When many of the interstates were built in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, there were little or no services on them, especially those open 24x7.  With the increase of truck stops, travel centers, 24 hour grocery stores, Wal-Mart, there are many more options other than the rest areas.

However, if all you need to do is relieve yourself and take a walk, the commercial options will all take more time.

[mightyace]

I really like service plazas on Turnpikes.  At least we don't have to worry about them going away.

Actually, the number of them has decreased as well.  When the Indiana Toll Road was built, it had eight pairs of service plazas.  But, by the late 70s or early 80s it was down to five pairs.

And, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has closed a number of smaller service plazas in the last couple of decades.  Also, a service plaza was closed to provide room for the Warrendale Toll Plaza which is the current western end of the ticket system.

[74/171FAN]

VDOT is about to close 18 rest areas as of July 21 and the I-66 WB Manassas Welcome Center September 16

[Chris]

This is one of those major differences between Europe and America.

In Europe, rest areas are common every 15 miles, service areas usually every 20 - 40 miles, depending on traffic volumes. These are directly on the freeways, you don't have to take an exit to reach it.

As far as I know, service areas are only common along Turnpikes, and not along toll free Interstate Highways.

A relative new thing are the so-called expressways, which are nearly to freeway standards (usually only some alignment, speed limit and exit density difference). The problem is that they do not have service areas very often, especially a problem in Spain.

I wonder how someone from Europe is renting a car in the U.S., and trying to find a service area along an Interstate, and can't find any.

[rickmastfan67]

Well, I know NC is building a new one on I-73/I-74 as of right now.

[Hellfighter]

The remaining rest areas in Michigan are all getting remodeled to accommodate larger amounts of travelers.

[corco]

Rest areas seem to still be doing quite well in the rural western states. Wyoming, Washington, Idaho, and Utah are all states I drive across very frequently and I have yet to see a closed rest area or hear of one closing

[Sykotyk]

For the quick stop, rest areas still work.

As for truckers, any parking spot taken away is one too many. At least what the states should do that want to close rest areas is close the building, restrict car traffic and let trucks still use it for parking.

Which brings me to a point I was thinking about quite a while ago:

States keep crying they don't have funding for highways. Yet, they're restricted from placing service plazas on regular interstates.

Problem, meet solution.

Sykotyk

[mightyace]

States keep crying they don't have funding for highways. Yet, they're restricted from placing service plazas on regular interstates.

Problem, meet solution.

Sykotyk

I think that they're even restricted from putting service plazas on new toll roads.

Anyway, any attempt to build new service plazas would have to fight cries of "favortism" with whoever got the contract(s).  In reality, it shouldn't be a problem as most service plazas in the U.S. have higher gas prices than off the highway.

[Revive 755]

In Missouri, I would say rest areas are generally a thing of the past.  I wouldn't expect to see any built on I-49 or any other future interstate.  The number on I-44 and I-70 will decrease after those routes are rebuilt.

It is my opinion that rest areas should still be required, as on some winter days I just want a bathroom and not to buy another cup of coffee.  Many gas stations or restaurants don't provide weather information or road construction information or place to simply rest for a couple hours before continuing the drive.  Then there are issues when one happens to be out late at night in rural areas with places closing for the night - although I can think of at least two rest areas in Missouri that were not 24/7/365.

Now if there would be a rest area affiliate program in place of some of the closed rest areas, I'd be happier.

[ctsignguy]

This is one of those major differences between Europe and America.

In Europe, rest areas are common every 15 miles, service areas usually every 20 - 40 miles, depending on traffic volumes. These are directly on the freeways, you don't have to take an exit to reach it.

As far as I know, service areas are only common along Turnpikes, and not along toll free Interstate Highways.

I wonder how someone from Europe is renting a car in the U.S., and trying to find a service area along an Interstate, and can't find any.

Well, as mentioned elsewhere on this thread, service areas had generally been the province of tolls roads over the years, although you tend to see a lot of them in the Northeast....and while they DO still provide the convenience of skipping off to the side to take a 'stretch and retch' stop, you DO pay quite a bit more for that convenience...up to an extra dollar for food, and up to an extra 25-30 cents per gallon for gas

On my trip to New England in May, i found the worst gas prices were on the Merritt Parkway (2.60 per gallon)...the old Connecticut Turnpike wasnt much better, nor was the Pilgrim Pike (Massachusetts).  Service plazas on the Pennsy Pike, the Garden State and Jersey Pike prices were about what could be expected pricewise...

As to why the ones in Connecticut werent taken down with the tolls on both the Turnpike and the Merritt (as well as Wilbur Cross), i am not certain, but at times, i was glad they were there!

as to not finding on the road service areas, generally now, there are gas stations and restaurants at almost every interchange in the US Interstate system (there are a few with no services, but they are usually marked as such on the highway so you know not to stop and waste your time looking...

In Ohio, most rest areas used to be 40-60 miles apart and some have closed in recent years....I recall one built on I-90 in northeast Ohio, opened with much fanfare in the mid-to-late 80-s, but it is now closed and demolished...

i have NO idea why ODOT does some of the things they do....

[akotchi]

And, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has closed a number of smaller service plazas in the last couple of decades.  Also, a service plaza was closed to provide room for the Warrendale Toll Plaza which is the current western end of the ticket system.

The two Neshaminy service plazas at the eastern end of the Pa. Turnpike are also closing/closed to make way for the relocated mainline plaza west of the proposed I-95 interchange.

The only rest areas I see any more are the ones at the state lines (i.e. welcome centers).

[Bickendan]

Rest areas make for good places to catch a nap when doing a long trans-continental drive.

They're still common in Oregon; the one on I-205 in West Linn did close about 10 years ago, though.

[mightyace]

And, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has closed a number of smaller service plazas in the last couple of decades.  Also, a service plaza was closed to provide room for the Warrendale Toll Plaza which is the current western end of the ticket system.

The two Neshaminy service plazas at the eastern end of the Pa. Turnpike are also closing/closed to make way for the relocated mainline plaza west of the proposed I-95 interchange.

The only rest areas I see any more are the ones at the state lines (i.e. welcome centers).

The rest areas on I-80 in PA are as intact as they have been for the last 20 years.

[SSOWorld]

For the quick stop, rest areas still work.

As for truckers, any parking spot taken away is one too many. At least what the states should do that want to close rest areas is close the building, restrict car traffic and let trucks still use it for parking.

That's what truck stops are for  Many states are banning trucks from stopping overnight on any stretch of road - including ramps and rest areas.  I'm sure businesses don't like anyone loitering on their property -

Which brings me to a point I was thinking about quite a while ago:

States keep crying they don't have funding for highways. Yet, they're restricted from placing service plazas on regular interstates.

Problem, meet solution.

as long as the truck stop industry exists, these won't.  They are the reason the anti private rest area law continues to exist.

I think that they're even restricted from putting service plazas on new toll roads.

Only on toll roads carrying Interstates

Anyway, any attempt to build new service plazas would have to fight cries of "favortism" with whoever got the contract(s).  In reality, it shouldn't be a problem as most service plazas in the U.S. have higher gas prices than off the highway.

Why? If that's true then why isn't anyone complaining about what's present now in the northeast US?

Rest areas are going away because of the U.S.'s philosophy about who should be in charge of accomodations - private.  "We gotta get government out of our hair".  (YEAH RIGHT!!!  - why the micromanaging laws then?)

[thenetwork]

The oddity along I-70 in Western Colorado (Utah to Denver) is that the majority of official "Rest Areas" are located off the mainline interstate, usually adjacent to the freeway exit, so that one Rest Area serves both Eastbound & Westbound traffic as well as local, non-interstate traffic.

Most of the mainline "Rest Areas" along the same stretch of I-70 in Colorado are officially known as "Scenic Views" or "Parking Areas" with little or no rest area amenities.

[Greybear]

On the entire length of I-30, there are only 4 sets of rest areas - 2 in Texas and 2 in Arkansas. The one at M/M 93 in Arkansas is unique in that it's built in the median and requires left exits off the interstate.

[SP Cook]

This is one of those major differences between Europe and America.

I do think this is significant.  In the USA, other than on toll roads, highway services are more or less the "free market".  Sombody gets some land by an exit and builds something they think people will want to use.  In Europe, and in Canada and Mexico, the roads operate as one system, with services provided by vendors on the road.  The road is one "place" and the area it passes through is another.

Now you can see different political/social phylisophies at work here, and as a new poster, I will not get into that.  But lets talk about traffic flow.

The basic patern of the interstate highway system dates to the 1950s.  And, with good roads and a growing population, previously rural areas become suburbs.

So today we have exits designed for rural areas that now have a large number of residents AND a large number of through motorists looking for services.  This burdens exits, and, I would assume that a large number of accidents happen by unfamilar people using exits with patterns they are unfamilar with.

Imagine if certain busy roads in the east and midwest had a "euro-style" system.

[exit322]

That's how a lot of our toll roads around here basically work.  Especially the OH Turnpike...sure, it goes near Cleveland/Akron/Youngstown/Toledo, but it's hardly a commuter route for any of them.  Certainly the OTP is a place 'different' from the areas it passes through.

[Terry Shea]

Rest areas represent a tremendous cost to the state both to build and to maintain and undoubtedly take some business away from gas stations, restaurants and hotels along the freeways.  Obviously having some rest areas along the route is necessary but I think they may have gone a bit overboard when they started building most of the freeways in the 60's and 70's.  Actually I'm surprised Obama hasn't called for the building of federally maintained rest areas along interstates every mile or so, since growing the government and taking away from the private sector is such a good idea.  They could replace vending machines with "free" government cheese and such, but I digress. 

Another problem we had in the Grand Rapids area, but I'm sure it's not just a local problem, was blatant and open homosexual activity at a couple of rest areas.  Not only that, people were stopping to use the facilities and being propositioned for sex and the state was receiving numerous complaints.  They set up a sting operation and netted somewhere around 100 arrests (I think) in one day, but problems continued.  This was eventually solved when the M-6 freeway was built.  The interchanges at I-96 and US-131 were designed to run right through the existing rest areas, which were eliminated.

[mightyace]

Another problem we had in the Grand Rapids area, but I'm sure it's not just a local problem, was blatant and open homosexual activity at a couple of rest areas.  Not only that, people were stopping to use the facilities and being propositioned for sex and the state was receiving numerous complaints.  They set up a sting operation and netted somewhere around 100 arrests (I think) in one day, but problems continued.

It's probably not just a local problem though I have not seen any of it.

The situation you described appeared in the movie "There's Something About Mary" including the police sting!