2004 National Safety Rest Area Conference

1
2004 National Safety Rest Area Conference

• Mn/DOT Streamlining andNew Initiatives
• Rob Williams, LLARest Area Program Manager

2
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

3
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• ??? 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

4
What Induced Mn/DOT Actions?
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• FY03 Management Proposal
• Fund higher priorities road construction projects
• Cut rest area maintenance operations by2
  million (33 cut)
• Impacts of Proposal
• Close all non-Interstate rest areas andTravel
  Information Centers (TIC)
• Close four Interstate rest areas

5
What Induced Mn/DOT Actions?
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• Who Reacted to Proposal
• Public
• State legislature
• Rest area partners
• Department Response
• Keep rest areas open through June 2004
• Explore new ways to operate rest areas
• Direction from Legislature
• Report to legislature on Mn/DOT plans forrest
  areas

6
Report to the MN Legislature Jan 2004
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• Streamlining Approach
• Commitment to facilities serving asafety rest
  area purpose
• Disposition of or operation reductions atthose
  not serving this purpose
• New Initiatives
• Leasing space within rest areas
• Sponsorship Program
• Sales at rest areas
• Advertising at rest areas
• Expanded vending
• Sales of surplus rest area properties
• Rest area dedicated account

7
Report to the Legislature Jan 2004
? ? ? BACKGROUND
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Reassess Rest Area Program
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• Define Program
• Mission Statement
• Program Objectives
• Assess Existing Program
• Service Network
• System
• Assure comprehensive and consistent assessment
• Criteria to define a rest area
• Rational recommendations for disposition sites
  not meeting criteria
• Develop Implementation Strategy

9
Rest Area Program Mission Statement
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• The Mn/DOT Rest Area Program is to provide
  motorists in Minnesota with a coordinated
  systemof rest areas and waysides. The system
  will cost effectively meet the needs of the
  motoring publicby promoting a safe, pleasurable
  and informative travel experience in order to the
  help motoristtravel safer, smarter and more
  efficiently.

Objectives Planning Administration Development Mai
ntenance
10
Two Components of Rest Area Program
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• Service Network
• Highway network on which Mn/DOT develops new rest
  areas
• 50 mile spacing on network
• 25 mile spacing along North Shore
• System
• Aggregate of the individual rest areas managed by
  Mn/DOT
• Duplication of public services avoided ?

11
Rest Area Types
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• Class I
• Flush toilets
• Open 24/7/365
• 29 Interstate13 Non-Interstate

• TIC
• Class I with staffed travel counter
• Partnership with the Tourismand their partners
• 6 Interstate5 Non-Interstate

• Class II
• Vault toilets
• Seasonal
• 24 Non-Interstate

• Class III
• Unisex orPit Toilet
• Seasonal
• 13 Non-Interstate

• Class IV
• No toilets
• Seasonal, but no shutdown required
• Most diverse facilities
• 187 Non-Interstate wayside rests

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Average Annual Maintenance Cost By Type
? ? ? BACKGROUND

• Interstate Facilities
• 130,000 TIC
• 115,000 Class I
• Non-Interstate Facilities
• 110,000 TIC
• 95,000 Class I
• 11,000 Class II
• 5,000 Class III
• 1,500 Class IV

13
Count and Total Cost By Type
? ? ? BACKGROUND
14
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

15
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• ??? 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

16
Decision Tree Methodology
? ? ? STREAMLINING

• Standardize decision process
• Respect agency priorities
• Ensure comprehensive assessment of facilities
• Improve defendability of approach
• Guarantee consistency statewide
• Set clear criteria defining,What is a Rest
  Area
• Deliver rational recommendationsfor disposition
  of sites

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Decision Tree Color Designations
? ? ? STREAMLINING

• Rest Areas Facilities that serve a safety rest
  area purpose
• BLUE - Rest Area
• Sites not serving a safety rest area purpose
• GREENNational/State significance
• REDSpecial category regarding future
  transportation need
• YELLOWSite of Regional/Local significance
• ORANGESubset of Regional/Local significance
  where significantto State Scenic Byway group
• PURPLESite is surplus right-of-way

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Applying the Decision Tree
? ? ? STREAMLINING
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Safety Rest Area Purpose
? ? ? STREAMLINING

• Eliminates unsafe shoulder stop
• Critical location for commercial trucks
• Strategic location for promoting state and
  tourism
• Provides other safety function
• Occurs at the desired spacing on the Service
  Network

20
Methodology Continues Historical Trend
? ? ? STREAMLINING

• Reinvest in facilities serving a safety rest area
  purpose
• Eliminate / Transfer facilities those thatdo not
• Evolve to a leanermore efficient system

21
System Composition after Streamlining
? ? ? STREAMLINING
22
Status of Streamlining Effort
? ? ? STREAMLINING

• Moratorium on rest area closures extended toJuly
  2005
• Identifying parties interested in our properties
• Plan to transfer / sell / partner at sites that
  serve another government units core mission
• Recognize that other solutions to
  offsetmaintenance and operations costs

23
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

24
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• ??? 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

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What is Mn/DOT undertaking?
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Sponsorship Program
• Advertising at rest areas
• Expanded vending
• Leasing space within rest areas
• Sales at rest areas
• Adopt-A-Rest Area
• Partnerships

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Sponsorship Program - Overview
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• What is it?
• Contributor sponsors a rest area
• Sponsor acknowledged at rest areaand through
  other public media
• Complies with FHWA interimacknowledgment policy
• Market Research Study
• Business interviews
• Customer focus groups
• Business survey
• New Laws Required
• Mainline Signs
• Proceeds into rest area dedicated account

27
Sponsorship Program FHWA Comments
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Meets spirit of "Interim Policy on
  Acknowledgment"
• Acknowledgment signs are not advertising
• Signs acceptable if
• Sized reasonably, simple in design,devoid of
  contact information,directions or slogans
• Approved through MUTCDexperimentation process
• Consistent with State policy
• Consistent with MUTCDsigning principles for
  design,application, and placement

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Sponsorship Program MUTCD Process
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Problem Statement
• Description and illustration of sponsorship sign
  and how developed
• Supporting data and how derived
• No patent infringement statement
• Experiment time period and locations
• Evaluation plan
• Monitoring
• Before and after studies
• Termination clause
• Semiannual progress during process
• Final results report to the FHWA within 3 months
  of completion

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Sponsorship Program - Illustrations
? ? ? INITIATIVES
30
Sponsorship Program - Illustrations
? ? ? INITIATIVES
31
Sponsorship Program Market Research
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Rest Area User Focus Groups
• Conditionally accept concept assuming that some
  rest areas may close otherwise
• Accept the number of signs and design presented
• Mainline sign
• Sign on rest area grounds
• Sign or display in or on the building
• Thank you sign viewed as motorist return to the
  highway
• Business Community Interest
• Accept the concept
• Accept the number and location of signs

32
Sponsorship Program Next Steps
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Prepare RFP to retain consultant to
• Prepare business plan targeted toward
  transportation and tourism-related sponsors
• 28,000 anticipated median price forClass I rest
  areas
• 5,000 anticipated median price forother classes
• Market 10 test site sponsorships
• Cost of signs included in the contributionreceive
  d from the sponsor

33
Advertising at Rest Areas
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• What is it?
• Reintroduction of advertising programat rest
  areas
• Collaboration with the Office of Tourism
• Possible advertising components
• Display case and backlit displays
• Brochure racks
• Kiosks
• Digital projection / plasma screens
• New Laws Required
• More flexible implementationand administration
• Proceeds into rest area dedicatedaccount

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Expanded Vending
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• What is it?
• Expansion of items vended
• Collaboration w/ State Services for the Blind
• Under consideration
• Maps Phone Cards Lottery Tickets
• WiFi Wireless Internet access
• Benefits
• Improved customer service
• Increased revenue for SSB and Mn/DOT
• New Laws Required
• More flexible implementation administration
• Mn/DOT commissions into rest area dedicated
  account

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Leasing space within Rest Areas - Overview
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• What is it?
• Lease rest areas to provide services to travelers
• Likely lease candidates
• Community tourism departments
• Chambers of Commerce
• Government partners
• Negotiate lease terms
• Based on comparable market lease rates, less
• In-kind services from partner
• Grant funding solicited by partners
• Cash donations from partner for construction
• Promote and encourage the employment of needy
  elderly persons

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Leasing space within Rest Areas - Overview
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• New Laws Required
• 20 year lease term
• Commercial sales limited to
• Travel and tourism-related articles
• Software products or services developed by a
  government unit
• Rent or sell items for the convenience of
  travelers, including
• Local attraction tickets
• Permits and licenses
• Collect service fees

• Constraints
• No sales at Interstate locations
• Must use federal share of lease income for Title
  23 transportation purposes

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Leasing space within Rest Areas - Mechanism
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Mechanism for partnering with others to provide
  traveler services at lower cost to State
• Not-for-profit entities through negotiation
• Public entities through negotiation
• Private entities through best value
• Chambers of Commerce are categorized as a
  private entity

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Leasing space within Rest Areas - Purpose
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Expanded tourism and travel-related services
• Reduce rest area operating costs
• Simplify and streamline negotiation processwith
  partners
• Make partnerships more attractive and viable

39
Leasing space within Rest Areas - Approvals
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Approval needed by
• MN Department of Administration
• FHWA (Interstate and projects with federal
  participation)
• Parties to the agreement
• State Services for the Blind (SSB)
• Interagency Agreement between Mn/DOT and
  SSBwill identify competing merchandise

40
Adopt-A-Rest Area
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• What is it?
• Better market existing program to increase
  participation
• Expand services beyond litter pickup, if possible
• Vegetation management
• Minor repairs and maintenance
• Purpose
• Reduce operation costs at Class IV Waysides
  remaining in System
• Public has expressed an interest
• Better integration with Adopt-A-Highway

41
Partnerships
? ? ? INITIATIVES

• Limit to facilities with a safety rest area
  purpose
• Additional Criteria
• Safe, visible and convenient access to/from
  mainline
• Adequate parking and circulation, accessible 24
  hours per day
• ADA compliant facilities
• Restrooms, water and vending, where present,
  accessible 24 / 7, except at seasonal facilities
• Adequate utilities including potable water
• Safe site and building facilities
• New leasing laws will streamlinepartnership
  processesand simplify partner negotiations
• In-kind services can offset leasecosts to
  partners

42
Rest Area Dedicated Account

• A revolving account to deposit revenue from
• Leasing
• Sponsoring safety rest areas
• Advertising at safety rest areas
• Selling safety rest area property and lands
• Other revenue generated with respect to safety
  rest areas
• Mn/DOT can spend proceeds from account for
  safety rest area
• Program administration
• Maintenance and operations
• Development and improvements
• Services to customers

43
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

44
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• ??? 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

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New State Laws Enacted May 2004
? ? ? NEW LAWS

• Legislature passed department requested changes
  with some compromises
• Streamlining DelayedMn/DOT may not close any
  safety rest area or substantially reduce the
  hours of their operation until July 1, 2005
• Leasing to Private EntitiesLimited to
  Chamber-like entities
• Sponsorship ProgramLimited size and quantity of
  signs
• Sales at Rest AreasFood and beverage sales
  limited to vending machines

46
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• 5 SUMMARY

47
Mn/DOT Streamlining New Initiatives

• 1 BACKGROUND
• 2 STREAMLINING
• 3 INITIATIVES
• 4 NEW LAWS
• ??? 5 SUMMARY

48
Summary

• Streamlining
• Expect controversy
• Accept the need to spend money to save money
• Anticipate savings over time
• Recognize need for an objective, rationale and
  defendable approach
• Accept a refocusing on core mission
• Initiatives
• Expect controversy
• Recognize none are cash cows
• Understand that they can supplement funding
• Accept federal restrictions and other limitations

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www.dot.state.mn.us/restareas

• More Informationon the Web !

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Questions and Comments

• Thank You

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Planning Objectives
? ? ? PROGRAM CHANGES

• Identify rest area requirements and give priority
  to development and maintenance of sites on a
  specific high volume highway network, the Rest
  Area Service Network.
• Space facilities at reasonable intervals to
  dissemination information, reduce shoulder stop
  and driver fatigue accidents, improve motorist
  safety and provide travelers with opportunities
  for rest and comfort.
• Size facilities based on the type of road system
  served, projected traffic, traffic composition
  and projected usage.
• Avoid duplication of public services, identify
  and recommend the appropriate disposition of
  facilities that no longer meet the Program
  Mission and Objectives.
• Consider the needs of commercial truck traffic on
  all highways.

52
Administration Operation Objectives
? ? ? PROGRAM CHANGES

• Make our customers the center of every decision
  and every service provided.
• Focus on what is important and do it well.
• Improve services and become more accountable.
• Develop methodologies and use the outcomes to
  guide consistent decisions and direct work.
• Explore innovative solutions that minimize costs
  or generate revenue to offset costs to
  government.
• Prepare plans for new programs, as necessary.
• Explore alternate funding opportunities.
• Encourage increased use of technology and
  e-government services to improve work.

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System Rest Area Development Objectives
? ? ? PROGRAM CHANGES

• Develop rest area and wayside facilities in
  proximity to Interstate or non-Interstate
  highways, safely removed from the highway, with
  facilities and parking for motorist rest,
  relaxation, comfort and information needs.
• Site waysides and scenic overlooks to provide the
  motorist with safe opportunities to stop and
  enjoy a unique view or amenity.
• Establish rest areas and waysides near or
  associated with areas of natural, scientific,
  cultural, or historic interest, when reasonable.
• Include rest areas features like parking areas,
  resting areas, restroom facilities, picnic
  facilities, orientation travel information, and
  other facilities for the convenience of the
  traveling public.
• Provide interpretive exhibits or other
  facilities, where appropriate, to promote
  understanding and enjoyment of features and
  regions, where a rest area is located.
• Design cost-effective, high quality facilities,
  based on lifetime costs, that support a positive
  image of Mn/DOT and the State of Minnesota.
• Follow State and Federal policy direction.
• Incorporate context sensitive design in all work.

54
System Rest Area Maintenance Objectives
? ? ? PROGRAM CHANGES

• Cost-effectively operate, maintain and preserve
  Minnesota's investment in the rest area system
• Maintain system in sound and safe condition.