ROADSIDE COMFORT STATION ISSUES AND DESIGNS

The Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (SDHPT) initiated a research project to determine the rest area design, operations, and maintenance criteria required to serve the needs of the highway traveler. The information sources used included the following: personal visits with DOT rest area professionals in six states, telephone surveys of officials in 12 other states, visits to other agencies that maintain comfort stations, complaint and commendation letters from Texas rest area users, rest area surveys, visits with SDHPT legal counsel, visits to Texas rest areas, and interviews with maintenance personnel. The research findings are summarized in this article. Also included are the specific recommendations and guidelines for the design, operation, and maintenance of highway roadside rest areas that were developed as a result of this study.