Rest Area Commercialization - NATSO

10-12-2017 by NATSO House T&I Committee Chairman Shuster Supports Private Financing of Infrastructure at Hearing

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) strongly advocated for private financing as a means of funding infrastructure projects during a Subcommittee hearing Oct. 11, demonstrating a willingness to support policies that would lead to the commercialization of Interstate rest areas and threaten the truckstop and travel plaza industry. During a House Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing to explore solutions for boosting infrastructure investment and stabilizing the Highway Trust Fund, Rep. Shuster spoke positively about Connecticut’s decision to allow a private company to lease its on-highway travel plazas to finance upgrades to the facilities as well as Australia’s asset recycling program, which funds new infrastructure and revitalizes existing infrastructure through the sale or lease of public assets.

10-12-2017

08-09-2017 by NATSO NATSO Details Ill Effects of Commercial Rest Areas for Independent Journal Review

Businesses have invested heavily in real estate off interstate exits and allowing states to flip highway policy on its head and permit commercial rest areas after more than 50 years of established rules would devastate, truckstops, fuel retailers, convenience stores, hotel and blind vendors, NATSO told the Independent Journal Review in a recent interview.

08-09-2017

08-08-2017 by NATSO Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Urges FHWA to Address New York State’s Commercial Rest Areas

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) on Aug. 8 urged the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to hold New York state accountable for its violation of the federal law prohibiting commercial rest areas.

08-08-2017

07-25-2017 by NATSO NATSO Files Comments with DOT, Urges Agency to Maintain Existing Prohibition on Commercial Rest Areas

Expanding commercial services at rest areas, including liberalizing the definition of “vending machine,” threatens consumers, small business and localities by undercutting the highway-based businesses that currently operate near the interstate exit interchanges, NATSO said in comments filed with the Department of Transportation (DOT) July 24.

07-25-2017

07-19-2017 by NATSO Senate to Shift Focus to Infrastructure Following Health Care Collapse

Sen. Mitch McConnell told reporters July 18 that the Senate will move on to comprehensive tax reform and infrastructure following the collapse of the GOP’s repeal-and-replace health care plan.

07-19-2017

06-30-2017 by NATSO Massive Infrastructure Bill Could Slip Into 2018

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said Congressional work on President Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure package may be pushed until early next year as lawmakers focus on healthcare and tax reform and a bevy of other must-pass bills in the coming months.

06-30-2017

06-13-2017 by Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman Business and Community Leaders Urge Congress to Oppose Commercial Rest Areas

A diverse coalition from restaurants and fuel retailers to city governments, trucking firms and blind entrepreneurs today urged key lawmakers to oppose efforts to commercialize Interstate rest areas as Congress considers infrastructure legislation.

06-13-2017

06-08-2017 by NATSO Anti-Tolling Coalition Criticizes Administration’s Call for Privatizing Infrastructure

The Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates, of which NATSO is a founding member, criticized President Trump’s call for privatizing America’s infrastructure, following remarks made June 7 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

06-08-2017

05-23-2017 by NATSO Trump Administration Announces Support for Tolling, Rest Area Commercialization

The Trump Administration released its 2018 budget proposal on May 23, and it includes recommendations to change federal law in a manner that would effectively crush the truckstop and travel plaza industry.

05-23-2017

05-15-2017 by NATSO NATSO Kicks Off Day on the Hill 2017

The truckstop and travel plaza industry kicked off its annual Day on Capitol Hill event May 15 to push for sustainable highway funding as well as to voice concerns for efforts to repeal debit swipe fee reform.

Industry News

05-15-2017

05-01-2017 by NATSO Administration Aims to Release Infrastructure Plan in Mid-May

President Donald Trump said that the Administration could release an infrastructure plan as early as mid-May that is expected to focus heavily on public-private partnerships for funding.

05-01-2017