Do you think the state should be able to enter into private contracts in order to maintain rest areas, why or why not?
http://www.azdot.gov/CCPartnerships/News/Nrel2630.asp
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Comments
I don't believe that privatization of the rest stops is a good idea, although I think that the GOP had privatization in mind from the start. The closures were a way to strong arm folks into believing it is the only way to get them back open. Which one of Jan Brewer's buddies are in line for this windfall?
Spent the summer in my RV and could not wait to exit Az due to lack of open rest stops. Rest stops really influenced our impression of the states we visited and dictated how long we stuck around (and spent $$$). I think Az needs to keep control of the rest areas to maintain the theme of respect for the land, safety of the visitors and vitality of the local business nearby.
Every day I drive the hiways and byways of Arizona I see orange jump suits working along the hiway cleaning and pruning, etc. Why not use them also for maintenance of our rest stops. OK, so someone will say"but they are prisoners". That's right dear heart! BUT, having spent 25 years in the prison service of the Feds, I can tell you these are minimum security prisoners, most doing time for DUI, petty theft, etc. Also, they are suprervised by a corrections officer or two.
If this were a problem for some, close the rest room buildings for a period of time each day so they could clean the inside of the buildlings thereby eliminating the chance of the general public coming into contact with them outside the view of their supervisor.
These prisoners are generally paid a small wage for this type of work. The money earned usually goes toward their fines or toward child support, etc.
The comment recommending a fast food outlet is also a darned good one. Having also driven an 18 wheeler for 10 years after my retirement, I can sure tell you those rest stops are sure welcome to tired drivers and they sure beat having to pull off the road to eliminate. Tha can cost you a ticket for indecent exposure. The excuse "but I had to go" doesn't cut it with Mr.or Miss Officer who catches you.
Why not turn maintance over to "camp hosts" like many camp grounds do. Let the camp hosts park their rigs for free in exchange for taking care of the facility.
I have been traveling in the north U.S. this summer. Not a single state has closed rest areas -- or state parks. The rest areas up here are definitely more expensive to maintain because of the cold. They all have a closed-in double entrance to the facility, then the rest rooms over to the side.
One thing many areas have done is have one rest area that is accessible from both directions, which Arizona officials could have done to cut down on costs. However, as we know Arizona officials were having fun building roads to nowhere, tearing up the desert in doing so. Good examples is the 4 lane divided highway into Oak Creek to satisfy developers, when there was only a 4 land divided highway between Phoenix and Tucson at the time.
They tell us there is no money--but where did it go? No one has explained that. The system has let us down in many respects, but this is no excuse to put rest areas (or state parks) in private hands, which is obviously going to cost the traveler.
The winter tourists is a big economical boost to the AZ economy. Could someone explain to me why our legislators do not know this fact--and are determined to put up obstacles to this legitimate revenue source.
I think privatization is a bad idea, and one we've all seen before (just look at the private contractors in Iraq!). A company negotiates a contract with the State, usually very favorable to the company, hires worthless workers for little pay, and ends up charging for it in the end. Even if a company like Budweiser or Nike, or whomever comes in, it will eventually have to charge people to use it. When are these big companies that control our governments going to realize that there is no more cash to squeeze out of the middle class? People are finally starting to realize that they must cut their personal spending habits. Big companies don't like that, they make their profits from folks wasting their hard-earned cash. These major companies are going to have to begin to see that, for all there advertising trying to get people to waste their money on their products, people just don't have any more money left. Then what's going to happen at the rest stops? Budweiser will have to start charging for them, or charging the State (which again is costing us) more on their contracts. Now, maybe the State hasn't always been the best at managing things, but handing everything over to big business is a move that folks will eventually feel sorry they made. Maybe folks should start by getting rid of all the politicians (both parties) in the State and begin to clean it up. Highways and rest stops should be paid for by our highway tax dollars, but politicians on both sides of the isle waste it on other fundings, and this must stop.
Big companies don't do anything to help anyone or for the benefit of anyone, they only do things they believe will benefit the executives and the shareholders, that's what big business is all about. They couldn't care less about driver safety or the cleanliness of the rest stop bathrooms. Just maybe the middle class is finally realizing this.
Don't forget people, NOTHING is free! I personally do not want a McDonalds there, the parking would be insane, and they would begin to enforce rules to keep people from getting a few hours of sleep in the parking lot. I for one, have used rest stops before to get 2-3 hours of sleep on a long trip so that I didn't fall asleep at the wheel. You put up a McDonalds there with security guards, forget that, and rest stops will just become another restaurant and parking lot and forget about getting any rest.
I believe it is vitally important that all rest stops on Arizona highways should be open and available 24/7. Drivers passing through our State should have access
to rest stops with clean restrooms and the ability to relax for a few minutes in a safe environment.
I feel if the State of Arizona cannot keep these rest stops open that having them privatized is the next best step. Perhaps organizations or companies would take over responsibilities and for that they could be named after a specific company or organization.
Contracting the rest stops might be OK for awhile however, this would require close supervision to insure the facilities were fully maintained.
Thanks for the opportunity to share comments.
I thought it should be illegal that the state would not only close, but prevent access to the rest stops! But, it's a great solution to privatize them.
I want one--now. How much?
You would think with the cost of vehicle registration in Arizona, that some of that money could go to making the roads more comfortable by having rest stops. The rest stops should have water, shade, and rest rooms available. Vending machines run by the state, or perhaps local service organizations could bring in money to run the rest stop and provide some extra money to the service organizations. A rest stop run by the Lions, the Red Cross, Veterans groups, etc.
would usually be maintained by volunteers, and the money from the Vending machines would pay for supplies, and donations to the organization. The state should make this service organization income tax free, and see if there would be any intrest from the organizations by notifying them the rest stop would be named after the organization running it, such as DAV rest stop #1 etc. Just a thought.
It makes all the sense in the World, particularly since the State of Arizona has had to close many of the rest stops because of lack of funding. That creates a dangerous situation when drivers who are tired cannot pull over. Not just because of sleep deprivation, but there is a closed rest stop near the prison outside of Kingman, where the three men escaped last week. They hijacked a truck that had pulled over to change drivers at the side of the road. It would not have happened in a well lit rest stop considering that the prison uniforms would have been obvious and they would have been observed. Better private than closed. It would also give travelers a chance to take a break and get a cup of coffee or something to eat without having to find an exit, and not knowing where to go once off the freeway. I would assume that the stops would be leased to private concerns, which would put money into the State coffers instead of taking it out.
Rest areas should be open and free to use for all. If they are free to use with no charges for use of all the area and no charges for special areas-( clean toilets) being private would be fine. Another way to gain money would be to sell nameing rights like Chase Field( rest area) and Petsmart Dog Walk
This is done in other states where the franchisee...McDonalds or whomever, maintains the rest area including security, in exchange for being allowed to open a restaurant on site. This is a win-win for everybody.
Rest areas are so very important for the traveling public and every effort must be made to keep them open 24/7.
I think Budweiser John McCann is using unnecessary money of his complain, Az knows McCann is not young to keep his political and Country political work any more. So I suggest before he die he should help Arizona to keep open the rest area. Az will not get enough money from Tax. Many business/houses closed . You can buy 1.02 million dollars house in just 550.000 dollars. If John McCann thinks that he is from Sadona, he will help Govt. with out party interest. If he from Michigan than keep Budweiser's money there. AZ will find any way to open th rest area.
I think that the privatization would be a good thing. However the Federal Government will again stand in Arizona's way of letting the free market work. The Feds must allow us to do that or we would risk having our transportation dollars taken away. So much for the power of the Federal government coming from the ground up.