More Services Could Be Added to Connecticut Highways If Federal Law is Changed

This lack of consistency is exactly what you and other Connecticut motorists will see unless federal restrictions are modified to allow rest area commercialization.

Service Plaza Renovations

Twenty three highway service plazas along Connecticut's Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways (Route 15) and the Connecticut Turnpike (Interstates 95 and 395) will receive a $178 million overhaul using private funds, according to the Web site CT Service Plazas.

The first of these renovated service areas opened on April 21, 2011 featuring a Dunkin' Donuts Express, Subway, a Fast Freddie's convenience store, relocated and safer Mobil gasoline pumps, new restrooms, as well as solar panels and other "green" improvements.

A WTNH story reported that motorists can expect to see similar improvements for the other 22 service plazas which will all reopen by 2015.

According to a Connecticut DOT press release, the larger Interstate 95 service plazas will also feature McDonald's along with an upscale Italian and seafood restaurant called Fast Break run by University of Connecticut Women's Basketball coach Geno Auiremma.

Auiremma led his team to seven NCAA Division I championships and has a pub and food court in Uncasville's Mohegan Sun Casino.

The New Haven Register reports that Fast Break will open its first locations on the interstate in Milford when those service plazas reopen at the end 2011.

According to a WTNH news story, the service plaza markeover project is part of a private-public partnership between the state and the Carlyle Group expected to provide a $500 million economic benefit to the state.

Current Conditions of Service Plazas

The project modernizes ten facilities built in the 1930's and 1940's on the parkways and 13 built along the Connecticut Turnpike in the 1950's.

Currently, these Connecticut Service Area facilities consist of aging Mobil gas stations and MobilMart convenience stores along Route 15 and I-395.

Along I-95, gas stations are joined alongside buildings with McDonald's, gift shops, retail carts, and small food court eateries.

Service Plaza Locations

Parkway service plazas are in Greenwich, New Canaan, Fairfield, Orange, and North Haven while turnpike service areas are in Darien, Fairfield, Milford, Branford, Madison, Montville, and Plainfield. Facilities are on both side of the highway except in Montville with only a southbound plaza.

Darien and Greenwich feature welcome centers on the northbound side of the highway while the DOT is encouraging the Carlyle Group to allocate space for new welcome centers in Plainfield and Montville.

"Bathrooms and Brochure" Aging Rest Areas

The future does not look as bright for the eight "bathrooms and brochure" rest areas along Connecticut's highways.

These rest stops feature much smaller aging buildings with restrooms, vending machines and picnic areas. These simple rest areas cost the state $4 to $5 million annually to maintain and staff, according to Patch.

Rest Area Locations

Interstate 84 eastbound rest areas are in Danbury and Southington. West Willington has facilities on the eastbound and westbound sides of the highway.

Interstate 91 has northbound rest area in Middletown and a southbound rest stop in Wallingford.

Interstate 95 southbound has a rest stop in North Stonington while the northbound direction has a rest area in Westbrook.

Negative Impact of Regulations

Improvements for these rest stops have been limited since restrictions prohibit them from becoming food and fuel service areas. This makes them unattractive to developers who could use profits from those services to reinvest in their future.

In a 2008 Service Plaza Report; those restrictions were labelled a "disservice to Connecticut". The report explains that food and fuel services would fill-in large gaps of services on suburban and rural highways. Private industry has been unable to provide these services due to "land availability, land costs, public sediment and financial constraints."

Proposal for Rest Area Expansion

The report recommends overhauling existing rest stops and adding 18 new facilities on eight highways.

Their proposal is to build new service areas serving travelers on both sides of Interstate 91 in the Enfield region, Interstate 84 between Danbury and Waterbury, Interstate 395 near Thompson, Route 9 between Middletown and Old Saybrook, Route 20 near Bradley International Airport, Route 2 between Colchester and Norwich, and Route 8 near Torrington.

They recommend private truck parking facilities be built along I-91 in Hartford and I-95 near Waterford.

Three welcome centers are proposed for Enfield, Torrington, and Thompson.

Plan to Eliminate Unfair Competition to Local Businesses

While some businesses near highway interchanges fear that changing restrictions would affect their bottom line, the Athens Banner-Herald newspaper has made some suggestions.

These businesses should be given the first opportunity to move to a new service area. They recommend that those rest areas slated to become service plazas should stay within their current footprint to prevent possible traffic jams.

Conclusion

Connecticut should no longer have to carry the burden of maintaining aging rest areas. Residents should lobby their congressmen to allow Connecticut an exemption from rest area commercialization restrictions. Public-private partnerships will allow the state to receive additional revenue to limit the need of massive tax increases.

Sources Cited:

Connecticut Service Plaza Study. Connecticut DOT. http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpolicy/restarea/master_volii.pdf

Connecticut DOT. "Rest Areas and Information Areas on Connecticut" Highways. http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&q=292578

Corkery, Michael "Carlyle Group's Rest-Stop Deal: Private Equity Goes Mr. Clean." http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2009/11/22/carlyle-groups-rest-stop-deal-private-equity-goes-mr-clean/ The Wall Street Journal.

Davis, Mark. "Geno Opens More Fast Break Restaurants: to be located at highway rest stops". http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/connecticut/geno-opens-more-fast-break-restaurants WTNH Channel 8.

Haar, Dan and Altman, Jim. "Geno Auriemma's Latest Venture: I-95 Plaza Restaurants". http://articles.courant.com/2010-02-13/business/hc-geno0213.artfeb13_1_plazas-doctor-s-associates-restaurants Hartford Courant.

Kountz, Keith. "Renovations unveiled at service plaza". http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/renovations-unveiled-at-service-plaza. WTNH Channel 8.

"I-95 Rest Stops in Milford to Close for a Year" http://www.newhavenregister.com/articles/2010/11/22/news/doc4ceaf37d8258b484516165.txt New Haven Register.

Lockhart, Brian. "DOT Commish Defends Rest Stop Deal, Welcomes Legislative Hearing." http://blog.ctnews.com/politicalcapitol/2010/04/06/dot-commish-defends-rest-stop-deal-welcomes-legislative-hearing/ Hearst Communications.

Stannard, Edward. "Geno Auriemma's Restaurants Coming to I-95". http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/02/12/news/doc4b757f850566f050339897.txt?viewmode=2 New Haven Register.

Stuart, Christine. "Service Plaza Deal Scrutinized" CT News Junkie. http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/service_plaza_deal_scrutinized/