Four years ago, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposal to commercialize highway rest areas.
This 86-12 lopsided victory was a bipartisan show of support for truckstops, travel centers, and other private enterprises located outside the public right of way.
However, this big win did not kill the lure of commercialization. Indeed, although there is little threat of a complete repeal of the long-standing ban on commercializing rest areas, there are sporadic efforts throughout the country to gradually peel back the ban, as politicians seeking road money lured by false promises of quick-and-easy revenue. More