9 rest stops slated to close (Lebanon, Littleton: sales, 2009, lease)

[gradRun]

I just found out about this when I stopped at a rest stop on 93 this weekend.
It seems too bad, NH has always had, in my opinion, some of the nicest little rest stops. They're great if you're driving around up north and don't want to pee into a blizzard, or just want to get warm for a few minutes.

Here's the Union Leader Article:

The state Department of Transportation will shutter nine rest stops and lay off more than 13 permanent and 28 temporary workers under a budget proposed yesterday.

The rest stop closures will save the DOT $750,000 each year, spokesman Bill Boynton said, with $600,000 coming from wages and benefits and the rest from utilities and maintenance.

Slated for closure: On Interstate 93 in Littleton, Canterbury and Sanbornton; on Interstate 89 in Lebanon and Sutton; on US Route 2 in Shelburne; and seasonal locations on Route 9 in Antrim, on Route 4 in Epsom and on Route 25 in Rumney.

UnionLeader.com - New Hampshire news, business and sports - 9 rest stops slated to close - Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

[buck naked]

I will be sorry to see the ones on I-89 and I-93 close - They were great stops with a lot of info available and the clerks were always helpful and chatty. The fire always felt good too.

The one on route 4 was just a porta-potty in a parking lot, no? Won't miss that one so much.

[GregW]

I wonder hopw much tourist business is going to be lost due to closing the information desks. Closing the rest rooms is just absurd. What the heck do we have to pay tolls for besides cleaning off the snow.

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by GregW

What the heck do we have to pay tolls for besides cleaning off the snow.

I should have thought that was obvious.

How else would we pay the toll booth operators?

[jthibodeau]

A big slice of our State's income is derived through tourism. Many of these highway stops are quite busy on any given weekend. If the figures are correct, the cost averages out to under $84,000 per rest stop annually.

Being that our State is already in the business of selling booze, lottery tickets, and ski passes, I find it difficult to understand why no profit making ideas are coming forth for these locations. After all, I bet a decent sandwich shop generates far more than necessary to make up for these expenditures.

And, I hardly doubt that laying off these workers will benefit our economy. Nice stimulus package for these employees, huh? It just seems to be a bit "penny wise, pound foolish"........or was that penny foolish, pound foolish?

Everyone have a great day.......

[BF66389]

I have to agree with you; if you've ever driven on the Merrit parkway- those rest stops make a fortune; not from their gas sales (relatively low profit for the station) but from snacks and whatnot. I guarantee enough to offset $84k...

Maybe a few of the less-busy rest stops needs to close; but if the others can be made to self-sustain...why bother?

[Valerie C]

What are they thinking? This is the most asinine proposal I've ever heard... Our state depends on the tourism dollars, so why on earth would they CLOSE the rest areas... That simply says "WE'RE CLOSED" to the tourists who visit our state and use the highways. Dumb.

Now, here is a good opportunity for the state to think outside the box. If the rest areas are costing too much money to keep open, I'm sure there are business ventures who may be ready, willing and able to lease them and turn a profit? Maybe that's not the "NEW" Hampshire way...

Here's a way to NOT succeed in inviting visitors to our state: increase the gas tax, increase the tolls, increase the meals and service tax, close the rest areas. You, the traveler who needs to find safe and clean facilities? Well, we have lots of trees....

Welcome to New Hampshire...

[Brave Stranger]

Not the best idea.......but as far as the rest stop at exit 18 on route 93 goes it makes sense. Since exit 20 has been built up most drivers skip the stop at 18 and drive right to Tilton where they get out and shop and eat and use the restrooms.

[nhrocky]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

Not the best idea.......but as far as the rest stop at exit 18 on route 93 goes it makes sense. Since exit 20 has been built up most drivers skip the stop at 18 and drive right to Tilton where they get out and shop and eat and use the restrooms.

Oh No! I don't know how many times we've absolutely HAD to use that rest area........just can't make it to Tilton, lol. That's just about when the drinks kick in from driving over from western NH.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by nhrocky

Oh No! I don't know how many times we've absolutely HAD to use that rest area........just can't make it to Tilton, lol. That's just about when the drinks kick in from driving over from western NH.

Lol, I hear you It's a nice little rest stop, but from what I understand car traffic is way down since exit 20 has built up. So I'm not surprised that they are going to get rid of this rest stop.