Rest Areas

[cdswans]

A little bit of this . .

The Canadian Press: No rest for the weary as roadside rest areas close in United States

Will get you a little more of this . .

Trucker Dies in Crash into Rest Stop

I went both ways across AZ on I-40, last week, in beautiful weather. I could only imagine what Flagstaff and Little America will look like when the snow flies. Closing all the rest areas is foolish, dangerous and outrageous.

Whether or not you live in AZ, you do have constituency with the DOT through your payment/use of fuel taxes which, in turn, pays for maintenance and salaries. They can argue that revenues may be down overall but I'll bet fuel taxes have been consistent. You can let them know your opinion on closing the rest areas, here . .

Contact ADOT

[GMAN]

Virginia has also closed most of their rest areas.

[Orangetxguy]

I think that driver hitting the caretaker's house there in AZ was a disgruntled Virginina driver, upset that Arizona not only has open rest areas...but has "live-in" care takers! He showed AZ!

[RostyC]

Virginia has also closed most of their rest areas.

No Sheit......

[Jackrabbit379]

The rest areas on HWY 287 west of Wichita Falls are still open, but they took out the restrooms. Same way with the 2 rest areas in Henrietta, south of Wichita Falls on 287. They are now just "picnic areas".

I can see why the state would cut back from having to have employees working the rest areas, but I disagree with them closing them all together. The state is not spending any money when drivers just stop to rest.

[dieselgrl]

I can see why the state would cut back from having to have employees working the rest areas, but I disagree with them closing them all together. The state is not spending any money when drivers just stop to rest.

Agreed! Though as a female driver, restrooms are *really* appreciated

[Orangetxguy]

The rest areas on HWY 287 west of Wichita Falls are still open, but they took out the restrooms. Same way with the 2 rest areas in Henrietta, south of Wichita Falls on 287. They are now just "picnic areas".

I can see why the state would cut back from having to have employees working the rest areas, but I disagree with them closing them all together. The state is not spending any money when drivers just stop to rest.

Are you talkin about the new rest areas west of Quanah? I was by them in August and they were still open.

[Hawkjr]

The Governor claims to have them back open within 90 days of him taking office.. In Virginia

[Mr. Ford95]

I sure hope so Hawk, I didn't think me being a local would be as affected by the closings until this week..........Also hate it when the wife and I go out to her parents in Cincy. I stopped at the truck rest area on 64 out there near MM 30 last time coming home because the Welcome Center rest area was so jammed up with trucks and cars

[Jackrabbit379]

Are you talkin about the new rest areas west of Quanah? I was by them in August and they were still open.

No, I was talking about the ones in Iowa Park (about 5 miles west of Wichita Falls).
That one up at Quanah is really nice!

[Kevin0915]

The rest areas on HWY 287 west of Wichita Falls are still open, but they took out the restrooms.

you know professional drivers dont use restrooms. they do cat-walk checks or pee in bottles and throw them in the ditch as they leave the rest area.

[danske]

Virginia has also closed most of their rest areas.

It is criminal to close rest areas. I am required by safety and the law to periodical to check the load, truck equipment, and myself. To think that I can just stop find any truckstop to do this is inefficient and dangerous. It only takes a few minutes to use a rest area's facilities, bump the truck tires, load securement and hit the road. Stopping at a truckstop to do these checks is a major time waster!

I would encourage the federal law to be changed so that rest areas on the Interstate Highway System could become service areas. It works well on most of the state toll roads(except Massachusetts :-( ).

[GMAN]

I would like to see the rest areas opened, but I don't think that we need the feds to come in and legislate it.

[Malaki86]

I would like to see the rest areas opened, but I don't think that we need the feds to come in and legislate it.

I have to disagree. The states see closing them as a cost-cutting measure. It should be federal law that there are truck-accessible rest areas every so number of miles that are open 24 hours a day, with a certain number of parking spaces per rest area.

[Mr. Ford95]

I agree with the other 2 on Federally operated rest areas. If the Feds are going to write the HOS rules then they need to start going after these states that are closing the rest stops or take over those rest stops so that the truckers can still abide by the HOS.

[Malaki86]

It was interesting coming south into VA the other day on I-81 and seeing a sign that said "Next rest area 120 miles" - it's the first time I'll say I'm glad I don't run down there.

[Snowman7]

I agree with the other 2 on Federally operated rest areas. If the Feds are going to write the HOS rules then they need to start going after these states that are closing the rest stops or take over those rest stops so that the truckers can still abide by the HOS.

Yup. They want us well rested and safe. They just dont want us "around". They dont want to see us, listen to our trucks, or give us a place to park.

[Kurbski]

Yup. They want us well rested and safe. They just dont want us "around". They dont want to see us, listen to our trucks, or give us a place to park.

Man, Ain't that the truth. Nobody cares until they cant fill there piehole or wipe there ass.

btw, for those that run FL, they closed the I-4 EB rest area just before you get to I95 last month in my neck of the woods. That was a pretty popular parking spot with a dumpster and no restrooms. Probably cost more to throw the sod and fence it off than it did to keep it open.

[jorlee]

So, how are you going to pay for it? Another TAX?

[Malaki86]

So, how are you going to pay for it? Another TAX?

No - they need to stop taking money from the highway fund and putting it into other crap in the state that has absolutely nothing to do with transportation.