OPERATION AND MOTORIST USAGE OF INTERSTATE REST AREAS AND WELCOME CENTERS IN VIRGINIA

This study was conducted to examine existing conditions at Virginia's Interstate rest areas and welcome centers and to assess what impact additional services, such as vending machines, might have on the service delivery of these facilities. A selected sample of seven rest areas and four welcome centers were visited in October 1986, May 1987, and August 1987 for a 1- to 2-day period for the purpose of obtaining data. Traffic counts, vehicle occupancy, length of stay, restroom and amenity usage, and parking lot occupancy rates were all recorded. Videotapes were made to record the general condition of the facilities. Stopping motorists were asked to respond to a mailbox survey, and interviews were conducted with rest area custodians. The impact of vending machines, which were installed at seven sites in May 1987, was also assessed. The study generally revealed that the Interstate traveler is dependent on rest areas and welcome centers. It also pointed out the need for the refurbishment of some facilities and the need for additional facilities, especially women's restrooms. Vending machines were found to be enthusiastically received by the public, to generate approximately 30% more refuse but little in the way of litter, to incur some vandalism but only while attendants were not on duty, and to generate a substantial amount of revenue for the Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia State Department for the Visually Handicapped.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1989/1224/1224-007.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=OPERATION+AND+MOTORIST+USAGE+OF+INTERSTATE+REST+AREAS+AND+WELCOME+CENTERS+IN+VIRGINIA&author=M.+Perfater&publication_year=1989
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309048184
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1224, Rest Areas, Wetlands, and Hydrology. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Perfater, Michael A
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 46-53
• Monograph Title: Rest areas, Wetlands and hydrology
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1224
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Evaluation; Interviewing; Performance; Roadside rest areas; Surveys; Utilization; Vandalism; Vending equipment; Videotapes
• Old TRIS Terms: Vending machines
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Terminals and Facilities; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495041
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309048184
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 1990 12:00AM