10 SR
822/AP
Senate
Resolution 822
By:
Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Stoner of the 6th, Pearson of the 51st, Murphy of
the 27th, Jackson of the 24th and others
ADOPTED
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Georgia Department of Transportation to seek a waiver from the Federal
Highway Administration in order to allow retail developments in rest areas along
the interstate highway system; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the earliest form of rest areas for weary travelers appeared in the 1920's;
and
WHEREAS,
the rest areas travelers are familiar with today came into being after the 1956
creation of the Interstate Highway System; and
WHEREAS,
states have the responsibility for creating and maintaining rest areas;
and
WHEREAS,
the Federal Highway Administration, in 23 C.F.R. Section 752.5, prevents the
Georgia Department of Transportation from allowing the operation of commercial
retail operations within rest areas along the interstate highway system;
and
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia, in general, and the Georgia Department of Transportation,
in particular, are experiencing an unprecedented downturn in the amount of funds
available to maintain and operate rest stops along the interstate highway
system; and
WHEREAS,
one way to alleviate the cost to the state of maintaining and operating the rest
stops would be to allow certain commercial retail operations, excluding retail
operations that store or dispense motor fuel, to operate within the rest areas
and to assume the cost for the operation and maintenance of such rest
areas.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the members of
this body urge the Georgia Department of Transportation to seek a waiver from
the Federal Highway Administration in order to allow commercial retail
operations in rest areas along the interstate highway system in this
state.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the
Georgia Department of Transportation, the Secretary of the United States
Department of Transportation, and the Administrator of the Federal Highway
Administration.