No Place to Pit Stop!
Rest Stops Become a Thing of the Past
"Why don't they charge a quarter or something?'" said Connie Lucas, who lives in Pine, Ariz., about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from here. "There was one rest stop between here and Phoenix, and we really needed it."
With Arizona facing a budget crisis, their State Department of Transportation has come to the conclusion that closing thirteen of the state's eighteen rest stops was a necessity. They were not prepared for the barrage of calls and emails to the state's headquarters and may have to rethink the whole mess. State Rep Dan Patterson is quoted as saying,
"This bill may have the broadest support among members of any bill this year."
Where will folks 'relieve' themselves? This could open a Pandora Box for a whole other host of issues. I won't even go there!
Other states: Colorado, Georgia, Vermont and Virginia are also considering this rest stop closure as a resolve for the budget crisis. It makes me feel as though New York's Governor threatening to close our State Parks and Historic sites is just the prelude to rest stops. If they even attempt to go there - well, I for one, will be up in arms!
"People think, 'You just go in and change the toilet paper, don't you?' " said Kevin Biesty, the government relations director for the Transportation Department. "The answer is, no, we have to maintain the water quality, we have do maintenance to the buildings and so on. Some of those places in the middle of nowhere are like their own little cities."
The problem is that most localities in the state are broke, too. Further, federal law prohibits states (including Arizona) with Interstates built after 1956 from privatizing or commercializing their rest areas. "This bill doesn't really give us any new tools," Mr. Biesty said.
So, where do you 'go' when you have to 'go?' I suppose the porta potty business will be booming!
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/us/05reststop.html?hp=&pagewanted=print
Published by Michele Starkey
Optimist who enjoys writing, laughing and spreading good news. If I have but one life to live, I hope to make mine memorable. My epitaph will read: she lived, she loved, she left. View profile
The Real Hygiene Care and Health Risks from Bacteria in Public Restrooms...Every one's wary of toilet seats in public restrooms, but they're the last thing to worry about! Here's what you really don't want to be touching...- A Rant About Women's Public RestroomsA young woman explores the dirty side of public restrooms.
- Supervising Your Child in Public RestroomsWhat matters is that children need supervision in public restrooms, whether tangibly, by going with them or intangibly, by instilling a sense of wisdom.
Minnesota's Blue Earth Rest Stops Along I-90 Can Be Called ParksThe Blue Earth Rest Stops along Interstate 90 in Minnesota are connected via bike trails under both eastbound and westbound I-90. They are a beautiful park area as well as rest...
NASA's Budget CrisisNASA finally realizes something needs to be done about their budget crisis.
- Five Things I Hate About Public Restrooms
- Tranquility at Middletown Interstate 91 Northbound Rest Area in Middletown, Connec...
- How to Keep Kids Germ Free in a Public Bathroom
- Mayor of Fort Lauderdale Apologizes to City About Not Recognizing Public Gay Sex
- The L.A. Budget Crisis and Its Repercussions
- My Take- the California Budget Crisis of 2009 (Part One)
- America, Public Bathrooms, and the Environment: Paper Towels and Toilet Paper
51 Comments
Post a CommentPlease "Like" Save CT Rest Areas on Facebook and show your opposition for plans to close all Connecticut non-commercial rest areas and welcome centers!
I recently drove from Alabama to Mionnesota and I was amazed at how many rest stops were closed. Looks like I have to find a new place to pick up women. Dang!
Good to know.
I think they should charge us instead of closing them. I cant survive a long journey without a restroom.
Great report!
While I think closing these reststops is wrong, there ARE gas stations and restaurants, aren't there?
wow that could be a really big problem
I guess gas stations and truck stops will just have to do. Maybe the boost in impulse purchases will cover the cost of cleaning up the restrooms...
All of the stops in VA were closed when I drove to PA last Thanksgiving. We had to get off at a regular exit and find a gas station!
Wow, good to know, as I used to live in AZ and still drive through the state a lot. I think charging a quarter or something is a great idea. They do that in Europe and it seems to work.