States’ Safety Rest Area Program and
Future Conference Discussion
Open Forum
Andy Keith (TxDOT) opened the forum for discussion on rest area program
items in other states.
Connie Tyson (Pennsylvania
DOT) mentioned that PA has installed five defibrillators in rest areas on
IH-80. She noted that none have been
stolen or vandalized. The American Heart
Association asked PaDOT to choose five sites for installation. The machines are furnished in a white box
with an alarm, and can be accessed by anyone.
To date, they have not been used.
Dean Perkins (Florida DOT) expressed concern about untrained users. Craig Tutor (Oregon TIC) mentioned that the
machines are virtually “idiot proof”. In
other words, the machines will not work unless they are used on a person
without a pulse. Connie noted that the
machines were about $1600.00 each, excluding the cabinet. Rob Williams (Minnesota DOT) mentioned that
it would be beneficial if they were marked or labeled as state property. Connie noted that the machines are labeled as
being legally covered under the Good Samaritan Law.
Art Thompson (Nebraska DOT)
raised the question of playgrounds and play surfaces. Steve Cook (Vermont DOT) stated that Vermont
has playgrounds with a similar rubber surface as Medina County. Art questioned the
possibility of using sand as a playground surface. Rob Williams (Minnesota DOT) said that
MN has used sand for some playgrounds and rubber for others. Dean Perkins (Florida DOT) noted that
the use of sand meets building code requirements, but not the ADA requirements. Ralph Carhart (CALTRANS) mentioned that CA has a “passive”
approach to play areas, utilizing grassy areas rolling hills, and large
boulders for children’s’ play areas.
Rob Williams mentioned the
topic of pay telephone providers at rest areas.
Debbie Einwick (Arizona DOT) mentioned a
partnership Arizona has with cell phone towers. Towers are constructed on the rest area
site, and pay telephones are nonexistent in newer facilities. Art Thompson said that small phone
companies in remote areas are unable to provide phones, and the state pays for
the telephone and service with proceeds going back to the small telephone carrier. Dean Perkins
mentioned that Florida has overlapping telephone service in most areas. Therefore, the
state has a choice of phone providers, and the providers install and maintain
public telephones. Ralph
Carhart noted that California has a single provider
for all state facilities and provides three telephones at teach rest area.
Andy Keith brought up the
question of construction contracts, and mentioned that Texas utilizes a lump
sum low bid contracting method. Dean Perkins stated that Florida almost
exclusively uses design-build firms. FL still has negotiated contracts with
proposals, phase reviews, and projects complete approximately eight months
earlier than normal contracting methods. Steve Cook said that Vermont designs
rest areas in house and issues a request for proposals to build.
Connie Tyson raised the
question of truck parking provided at rest areas exclusively. Dean Perkins noted that Florida provides up
to sixty to seventy truck parking spaces for each new facility. Connie noted that
people will only walk so far to access restrooms and that truckers would rather
use a portable container and dispose of it on the rest area grounds. She offered the
suggestion of using “satellite” toilets nearer the truck parking. Dean said that the
truck parking is compact and pull-through, and that FL has not seen a problem
with the distance to restroom facilities. Art Thompson asked if there has been
demand for public showers (There has been in Nebraska). Dean noted that there has been a
conscious decision not to provide showers.
Andy Keith introduced the
topic of construction followed by maintenance.
Debbie Einwick said that Arizona has had
success with this. Arizona’s
contracts are broken into two phases with Phase I being construction and Phase
II being a one year maintenance agreement. Debbie promised to provide a copy of
the maintenance agreement for the National Safety Rest Area Conference
Proceedings CD. Dean
Perkins inquired about problems with FHWA in using this contract. Debbie noted that
Phase II of the contracts only utilize state funds, not federal. Art Thompson noted
that Nebraska utilized a one year warranty period upon completion of the
contract. At
the end of the warranty period, the general contractor as well as its subcontractors
performs a walk through of the facility. Andy Keith noted that Texas has had a
problem with the contractor’s warranty overlapping the beginning of the
maintenance contract on newer facilities. This promotes a lot of “finger
pointing” when problems occur.
Debbie Einwick
stated that Arizona has partnered with local communities to construct
non-interstate rest areas.
The state builds the facilities and turn over maintenance and
utility costs to the communities. She noted that it has worked well so
far. Art
Thompson mentioned that Nebraska has been researching this idea for
non-interstate rest areas.
Rob Williams questioned if these facilities are considered state
facilities. Debbie
responded that they are not considered state facilities and are not located on
the state map.
Art Thompson questioned the
usage of AASHTO standards for rest area programming. Andy Keith responded that Texas does not use
AASHTO standards, but creates its own program of work for three levels of rest
areas based upon average daily traffic to determine fixtures and parking spaces. Art noted that
Nebraska has used AASHTO standards and commented that the standards are
adequate for parking, but not for restroom fixtures. Other states noted that they are
looking at ways to “sharpen the pencil” when it comes to parking and fixture
quantities. Paul
Gray (New Mexico DOT) inquired about the use of traffic counters. Ralph Carhart noted that California has ramp and main lane counts. Andy Keith said
that Texas is looking into getting annual rest area counts.
Connie Tyson stated that
legislation continues to increase limits on length and weight of trucks and
that truck parking areas and rest area parking (older facilities) no longer
meet newer capacities. This began a discussion
of design sizes of truck spaces. Most
states use angled parking at 33 to 45 degrees and about 80 feet in length. Andy Keith then introduced the topic of
lighting the truck parking areas. Some
states are using islands to place lighting in parking areas. Andy noted that Texas wants to remove islands
and utilize perimeter lighting due to damage to existing islands. Christine Hunt
(Ohio DOT) noted that islands help navigation into and out of parking areas. Ralph Carhart mentioned that California tries to reduce lighting
in truck areas for truckers that are sleeping.
Andy Keith turned the
discussion to trucks rutting the pavement and earth on the ramps. Art Thompson said the Nebraska has had this
problem and solved it by placing reflective delineators to keep truck from
driving off of and parking on ramps. He noted that this has worked so far. Christine Hunt
mentioned that Ohio paves over the rutted areas.
Art Thompson inquired if any
states are working with truckers’ associations.
Paul Gray noted that these associations are usually reactive and not
proactive; therefore, they are not useful in design. Ralph Carhart
suggested the publication of accidents related to trucks parking on ramps in
truck association news periodicals. This
may discourage truckers from parking on ramps.
The discussion then turned
into preparations for the next conference, moderated by Rob Williams (Minnesota
DOT), who will be hosting the National Safety Rest Area Conference in 2006.