Site and Building Planning

Open Forum

Tuesday, October 5th, 2004

3:00 – 5:00 pm

 

Andy Keith opened the forum and asked for questions and comments related to the Medina County Safety Rest Area site visit.

 

Rob Williams (Minnesota DOT) commented on the height of the toilet partitions, and the following points were made by the forum:

  • The standard toilet partition was believed to be 6’-0”.
  • Paul Campbell (TxDOT) noted that the Medina County stalls were 5’-4”.
  • The open area at the bottom of the stalls is beneficial for cleaning and determining if the stall is occupied.
  • Shorter stalls are beneficial for determining if more than one person is occupying the stall.
  • Curtis Fletcher (Louisiana DOT & Dev.) noted that LA began removing stall doors due to extensive vandalism, but received overwhelming complaints.  The stall doors were replaced.
  • Debbie Einweck (Arizona DOT) noted that AZ is utilizing hollow metal doors for partition enclosures.  The new doors are sturdier and require less maintenance.
  • The hooks on the inside of stall doors are beneficial, but prone to theft of coats and bags.  It was noted that hooks were better placed inside the stall and not directly on the door.

 

Paul Gray (New Mexico DOT) inquired about the barrier between the main lanes of traffic and the rest area drive at Medina County.  Paul Campbell responded that the barrier was paved with asphalt paving for maintenance and safety concerns.

 

Paul Campbell was asked about safety concerns regarding the large star in the Medina County lobby.  Paul noted that there have not been any safety issues (climbing, tripping) related to the star.  It was noted that the placement of the star presented a sort of psychological barrier for those waiting in line for the TexBox, and that could be a safety benefit.  Andy Keith pointed out that the original design for the lobby included a water tower.  The design was rejected due to the scale of the tower related to the size of the lobby.

 

A question was raised regarding the provision of extra storage space for blind organizations to stock vending materials on the rest area site.  Some states provide this space and the blind organization is responsible for the extra utility costs for storage.  Art Thompson (Nebraska DOT) noted that blind organizations request shelter via shade or trees for outside vending machines to prevent melting of products.

 

A question was raised regarding pet areas at TxDOT safety rest areas.  Andy Keith responded that most of our sites are pet friendly, and that it has not been a problem since enlisting TxDOT’s rest area maintenance contractors.

 

The topic of providing public dump stations at safety rest areas was introduced.  Andy Keith noted that TxDOT does not provide public dump stations.  Mike Taylor (TxDOT-Amarillo) mentioned that there have been several attempts by truckers to dump portable waste containers at the safety rest areas on IH-40.  Art Thompson indicated that truckers and RVers have often disposed of waste bags and containers at the entrance ramps of safety rest areas.  Georgia and Louisiana provide public dump stations and have complaints with cleanliness and private waste companies taking advantage of the public dump stations.

 

Andy Keith brought up the topic about surveillance cameras and their successes.  Mike Taylor noted that police and the FBI have used video footage for crime investigation.  Andy Keith mentioned that some video footage at TxDOT safety rest areas on IH-40 was used for a murder investigation for a crime committed near the safety rest areas.

 

Jennifer Pitts (North Carolina DOT) mentioned her approval of the width of stalls at the Medina County, but inquired if TxDOT was compromising number of stalls for space within the stalls.  Andy Keith noted that in TxDOT’s larger facilities, there are a larger number of stalls at the larger width.  Making the stalls wider adds a mere 1.5 – 2’ to the total building length, dependent on the amount of stalls.  Jennifer Pitts also raised the question of recycling at rest areas.  Nebraska recycles aluminum only, and North Carolina recycles everything that is recyclable. 

 

The topic of recycling diverted into the question of providing newspaper vending.  Christine Hunt (Ohio DOT) mentioned that Ohio has newspaper boxes, but are regulated heavily regarding cleanliness, advertisement, etc.  The boxes are provided by blind organization vendors for $50 per box.  Uly Flores (TxDOT) mentioned that Texas was approached by USA Today regarding newspaper sales.  Texas agreed, but placed heavy regulations on placement, advertisement, cleanliness, etc.  USA Today felt that the regulations were not worth the time and money, and withdrew.

 

Carl Johnson (TxDOT-Brownwood) praised the playgrounds at Medina County, but offered two suggestions: Consolidate the play areas so that parents can watch from one location, and provide a cover so that children can play in the rainy weather.  Carl also inquired about providing paper towels and vending machines for diapers and wipes in the family restrooms.  Andy Keith noted that paper towel litter could be controlled if limited to the family restroom, but providing diapers and wipes is really not an option.  Curtis Fletcher stated that paper towels will normally wind up in toilets, causing overflows.  Paul Campbell questioned the viability of providing vending machines for motor oil and other automobile maintenance items.  Curtis Fletcher noted that these items are strictly forbidden according to the Randolph-Sheppard Act.

 

Art Thompson questioned the retaining walls and tree wells at Medina County as safety concerns.  Paul Campbell responded that all structures are compliant with codes.  Some tree wells include hand/guard rails if they posed a safety concern.  Art Thompson also questioned the maintenance concerns related to the gravel walkways throughout the Medina County facility. (i.e. tracked into building, thrown at cars, etc.)  Paul Campbell responded that there is enough area of concrete between the paths and the building to prevent the gravel from being tracked inside.  Paul also noted that the gravel has not been a safety concern of children throwing at cars.

 

Andy Keith opened a discussion on truck parking issues, and the following points were made:

 

  • Craig Tutor (Oregon TIC) noted that truckers are demanding more space for parking.
  • Ohio is using old weigh stations and picnic areas for overflow truck parking at night.
  • Florida provides overnight security at safety rest areas, an added benefit for truck drivers.
  • Paul Campbell inquired about problems with cleanliness in states that provide simple truck parking.
  • Nebraska provides truck parking areas with ample lighting at scenic overlooks, but has problems with human waste dumping on site.

 

Andy Keith posed the question of which states provided enclosed and conditioned lobbies at safety rest areas.  The following points were made:

  • Ohio provides large lobbies at newer facilities, and has up to 52 toilet fixtures per facility.
  • Art Thompson noted that lobbies at rest areas provide a dual purpose: provide tourist information, allow travelers to determine where they are.
  • Florida provides breezeways at most rest areas.  They are not enclosed or conditioned.
  • Andy Keith inquired about specific storm shelters.  No states indicated that they are incorporating storm shelters.
  • Pennsylvania includes vestibules.
  • Andy Keith inquired about automatic doors at lobbies.  Several states indicated that they are using automatic doors.  Ohio and Nebraska are having problems with prevailing winds keeping automatic doors closed.
  • Georgia is reconsidering their doorless entry into restrooms.  Having problems with odor.  Art Thompson suggested exhaust fans connected to motion sensors.

 

The forum concluded with some non-detailed discussions of wastewater systems used in other states (Steve Cook of Vermont DOT explained a “Living Machine” systems used in Vermont), issues regarding memorials on highways and in rest areas, and interpretive signs and displays in rest areas.