Anger over closed rest stops in Arizona has spurred a state legislator to propose allowing entities other than the state to pay to keep rest stops open, the New York Times reported Friday.
The state’s Department of Transportation closed 13 of the state’s 18 rest stops last fall to help close a $100 million budget gap, the Times said in a front-page story. Each rest stop costs about $300,000 per year to operate.
Under State Representative Daniel Patterson’s bill, local governments, American Indian tribes and private groups would be allowed to pay the costs to keep rest stops operating. The proposal has support from a majority of legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, the Times said.
One hurdle to the bill is a federal law prohibiting states from privatizing or commercializing rest stops on Interstate Highways built after 1956. The governor has asked federal officials to consider changing the law.
Colorado, George, Vermont and Virginia are among the other states that have closed rest stops recently, the Times said. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said last month he would reopen 19 rest stops closed last year.
