NATSO to fight commercialized rest stops

Mar 17, 2003 12:00 PM, By Tim Parry

The National Association of Travel Plazas and Truck Stops (NATSO), a trade association representing United States travel plazas and truckstops, said the Bush administration is seeking to commercialize rest areas around the nation.

According to NATSO, the legislation would allow states to conduct rest area commercialization pilot projects, which would result in the closure of many interchange-based businesses such as truckstops and travel plazas, restaurants, motels, gas stations, and convenience stores.

“NATSO will fight against this anti-business, anti-trucking, anti-community provision and lead a coalition campaign to ensure its defeat,” said William D Fay, president and chief executive officer.

Fay said the plan would force the closure of many established businesses on the Interstate Highway System, which would devastate business owners who have invested in its communities.

In 1997, researchers at the University of Maryland documented that interchange businesses would lose between 60% and 70% of sales if Interstate commercialization were to occur. While the state might make more money, the study said the tax base of local governments would shrink.