Ohio’s plan to commercialize rest areas off to slow start

Ohio’s plan to commercialize rest areas off to slow start

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Ohio’s plan to commercialize highway rest areas has attracted limited attention from potential developers.

Developers passed on a proposal to turn five rest stops on highways in southeast Ohio into service plazas. Separately, just two companies responded to an Ohio Department of Transportation plan to find sponsors and advertisers for interstate rest areas.

ODOT hopes to make the proposal more attractive as it tries to offset the $50 million yearly cost of maintaining 104 rest stops.

Federal law bars Ohio from commercially developing the 45 rest areas and welcome centers along federal interstates. ODOT can post advertising and seek paying sponsors for them.

ODOT wants to turn some of the 59 other rest areas on state and U.S routes in rural and semi-rural areas into Ohio Turnpike-style service plazas.