4/4/03-The Minnesota Department of Transportation could close most of its rest areas unless the Legislature agrees to privatize rest area operations.
The agency’s proposal recommends closing most, or all, non-interstate and even some interstate rest areas to meet its $42 million annual budget reductions. MnDOT has not specified which rest areas would be closed.
Currently, the state operates 35 full-service, year-round operation rest areas on an interstate, 18 at non-interstate locations and 24 limited facility rest areas generally operated seasonally at non-interstate locations.
The agency’s budget proposal must be approved by the Legislature.