What's New

Public Information Meetings...

The Connecticut Department of Transportation and the consulting team is working on developing the final recommendations, following input from the public information meetings held late in 2007.

Preliminary Recommendations...

Preliminary strategies and recommendations for improving our state's system of traveler facilities, as well as "concepts" for all 8 individual rest area and 23 service plazas, have now been developed for the public to review!  The study team has also prepared preliminary concepts for four new potential rest area locations.  These preliminary recommendations and preliminary improvement concepts, which reflect the study's vision and guiding principles, are not final, they are "works in progress."  ConnDOT is now seeking public review and comment on them.

The preliminary recommendations incorporate these key strategies:

• Expand and upgrade existing facilities where possible, to accommodate more parking, safer on-site circulation, and a new larger building with pleasant ambience and up-to-date services and amentities.

• Improve "welcome center" element of roadside facilities at key gateway locations to Connecticut.

• Build over-the-highway service plaza facilities.  Use innovation to make the most of limited land availability.  Save the land for parking and fuel service and place the other services over the highway, as has been successfully done in other states.

• Develop several truck-only facilities for truck parking overflow -- perhaps with public-private partnerships.

• Add new rest area locations to fill in gaps in service coverage.

• Use environmentally responsible design, such as energy efficient buildings and idle-reduction technology to benefit both air quality and fuel consumption.

• Improve amenities to be more responsibe to traveler and tourism need.

To view the full report containing the preliminary recommendations and to see the preliminary improvement concepts, check out the Documents page.

Visioning...

The vision statement for the study is in place, providing focus for the study. More importantly, the vision statement will guide the Connecticut Department of Transportation in its planning efforts for the state's system of roadside travel facilities into the future, after the study is completed.

The vision statement is:  “To become a leader in the provision of services to travelers at our
highway service plazas and rest areas by improving quality and image,
enhancing tourist offerings, increasing safety, ensuring adequate
coverage and capacity on all corridors, and providing improved and
additional services and amenities which will benefit the state’s
economy and minimize community and environmental impacts.”       

Benchmarking process...

The study team has evaluated the rest areas and service plazas in other states in New England and elsewhere. This process, called “benchmarking,” is an important component of the study, as we want to learn more about “best practices” used in other states. Check the Documents page for the results of this important process.

Traffic/parking count results are in...

Traffic and parking counts have been collected at Connecticut's rest areas and service plazas.  This information is providing the study team with vital information about the use and capacity of the rest area and service plaza facilities. Check the Documents page for the results of these important analyses.

Mailing list...

Would you like to be added to our study mailing list? If so, please visit our Contact Us page. The mailing list will be used to disseminate information about the project and to invite you to attend upcoming public information meetings.