The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is studying the feasibility of establishing private commercial services in rest areas. A lease was signed in late 1990 for the first traveller services rest area (TSRA), which provides such commercial services. Under the agreement, a private partnership will build, operate, and maintain the rest area for 35 years, after which all improvements will become the state's property. Caltrans will contribute the land and $500,000 in exchange for an operating rest area and revenues from the commercial operations, estimated to be at least $9 million over the life of the agreement. TSRAs are still in an experimental stage, and two main obstacles impede further developments: federal law prohibiting commercial services on Interstates and opposition from local business operators who fear additional competition. However, during development of the first TSRA, ways were found to avoid these obstacles. Procedures being used in the investigations and implementation of the first TSRA development effort are discussed here, including the importance of community relations, dealing with local opposition, and approaches to the division of responsibility between the private sector and state. It is concluded that the approaches used to develop commercial services in new and existing rest areas in California hold great promise. State officials are encouraged that the new federal attitude toward privatisation and the willingness of the state to work with local interests will engender greater latitude in implementing future projects.
Abstract