ARLINGTON, VA - The Partnership to Save Highway Communities coalition, of which NACS is a member, has voiced opposition to Arizona's proposal to commercialize its interstate rest areas, TransportTopicsOnline.com reports.

Arizona's interest in rest area commercialization stems from an effort to plug rising budget shortfalls along with restricted transportation funds. The state has closed nearly 70 percent of its highway rest areas and has petitioned the federal government to allow the state to reopen them through the use of public-private partnerships.

In a letter to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer last week, the coalition said commercialization would create a "de facto monopoly" threatening roughly 1,200 Arizona businesses located within a quarter mile of an interstate highway that rely on through-traffic for their livelihoods.

Arizona Department of Transportation spokesperson Doug Nintzel said rest area commercialization was among the department's top priorities.

"At this point we€™re speaking out and urging our state coalitions to address the problem, but it€™s going to take a lot of work because it will require congressional approval," Nintzel said. "We are going to continue to see what we can do to reopen the rest areas on a short-term basis, but we are in it for the long haul."

For more on rest area commercialization, see the NACS issue page.