Currently, the Missouri Department of Transportation is considering allowing commercial use of state rest areas. But, a current bill in front of the Senate Transportation Committee would deny businesses from taking control of those areas. Kyle Elfrink has more from Jefferson City.
A 1996 study showed more than 18-hundred businesses along state highways, employing close to 60-thousand Missourians. And according to Paul Rogers, a representative for convenience stores and truck stops in Missouri, local businesses would die out if MODOT allowed commercial use of rest areas ...
Rogers says such an area already exists between Baltimore and Philadelphia and because of the commercialization at rest areas, local businesses along the highway have seen a 70 % drop in sales.
From the Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Elfrink, KMOX News.
|
[Missouri Digital News is produced by the State Government Reporting Program of the Missouri School of Journalism (home of the The Journalist's Creed) with support from the Missouri Press Association, the Missouri Broadcasters' Association, KMOX Radio in St. Louis and KSMU Radio in Springfield.
You can contact MDN at . MDN was designed and is managed by Phill Brooks] |
