Topics: Rest Area Commercialization

President Reiterates Infrastructure to Follow Tax Reform

President Donald Trump reiterated Nov. 20 that a massive infrastructure plan will be the Administration’s next priority once Congress finishes tax reform. More

NATSO Urges DOT to Reject Arizona Request to Commercialize Rest Areas

Arizona Gov. Douglas Ducey petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to allow the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to operate commercial rest areas under a pilot program, a move that threatens the truckstop and travel plaza industry as well as other businesses operating near Interstate exits. More

White House Economic Advisor Floats Possibility of Fuel Tax Increase

The President’s chief economic advisor on Oct. 25 raised the possibility of increasing the federal motor fuels tax next year to help pay for the Administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan. More

DOT Secretary Chao Reaffirms Push for Private Financing for Infrastructure

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao reaffirmed that DOT still expects private financing to play a role in the Administration’s infrastructure plan despite recent criticism of public-private partnerships by President Trump. Secretary Chao also said that work on an infrastructure package will not begin until after Congress works on tax reform, squashing suggestions that a tax code overhaul could be used to pay for an infrastructure package. More

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. More

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. More

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. More

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. More

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. More

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. More

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