Posted on 01/23/2012 8:41:27 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Maryland has taken the first step toward replacing its two travel plazas on Interstate 95 north of Baltimore with expansive, airy welcome centers filled with amenities and operated by a company with years of experience serving travelers.
The two-year, $56 million project to rebuild Maryland House and Chesapeake House as a public-private partnership with Areas USA was approved Monday by the Maryland Transportation Authority board. The deal requires the approval of the Board of Public Works next month and review by the General Assembly.
The state would retain ownership and oversight of the plazas, while Areas USA would operate and maintain them through 2047. Areas USA would put up the $56 million, while the state estimates it would receive more than $400 million in revenue over the life of the contract.
"We think these will be landmark facilities. We think they will be extremely attractive and welcoming," said Beverley Swaim-Staley, the state transportation secretary.
Maryland House, which opened in 1963, handles about 2.8 million visitors each year. The Harford County building was expanded twice, the last time in 1990. The smaller Chesapeake House in Cecil County, which opened in 1975, handles about 2.1 million people annually.
Swaim-Staley said that the state has known for a decade that the plazas were "functionally obsolete," and that other Eastern Seaboard toll authorities were upgrading their facilities. Nearly two years ago, Maryland officials began looking for a partner, but the process bogged down and went nowhere. Then, last summer, officials began courting Areas USA.
If approved, the deal would be the second major public-private partnership entered into by the state; the first was the 2009 agreement between the Maryland Port Administration and Ports America to run the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
I guess I'm ok with this partnership. Unless I'm missing something.
What’s wrong with the old 1s? I like that they are federal-style buildings and not modern-utilitarian ugliness. Hope that’s not where they’re heading.
OTOH, I never understood why we needed to have 2 major “welcome” centers within several miles of each other on the same route, while virtually none exist elsewhere in the whole state.
What they should do is build massive shopping malls with motels, movie theaters, full-service restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, casinos, etc. That way, people could drive across the country without ever having to leave the interstate system.
Huge opportunity being missed here and I'm totally serious. In fact, I'm thinking of raising some capital to do some of this myself. Call me an entrepreneur - I don't care. It's not a dirty word to me.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Another money losing (for the taxpayers) public project
So.. what is wrong with private enterprise?
In contrast, "free enterprise" means that both the public and the entrepreneurial workers win.
But....will they be putting in electrical charging stations....an inquiring mind wants to NO!
Lots of conservatives here in Annapolis....Naval Academy and all. The other thing about Maryland is that it is very strong economically. Many states are worse off then we are. Florida and South Carolina are two examples. I would not bash conservative Maryland if I were you. Well I am conservative and I know a few others......ok so the state is not a governing conservative state. It is still a great state with regards to economics.
Both those facilities are nice (enough) as-is. Why don’t they just put the money in the bank and remove the toll at the Susquehanna River crossing?
But....will they be putting in electrical charging stations....an inquiring mind wants to NO!
People coming from the north stop at the Chesapeake stop, and from the south at Maryland house. I think either one would be overwhelmed if there was only one.
After all, they need an excuse to increase the toll to get over the Susquehanna river.
Maybe they’ll expand on the great success of the ICC and make all of 95 a toll road.
Chesapeake House Welcome Center. This welcome center is also located in the median of I-95 and is in Cecil County, Md., approximately fourteen miles north of the Maryland House and twelve miles south of the Delaware line. Food, fuel, and travel information services are available. Ph. (410) 287-2313.
http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/ADA/SHA%20Welcome%20Centers
That part of I-95 used to be a toll road - they had a captive audience.
ETA, I think both being located in the median are accessible to both north and south bound traffic. And I do know having lived in that area, that entering from and exiting to the fast lane causes problems. These centers are also not far from Aberdeen and Belair, both accessible and conveniently located right off I-95 and both having a lot of restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, etc. and cheaper and nicer than what you find at the “Welcome Centers”
Yes, you can stop at either one going either direction, but if you gots to go pee-pee, you stop at the first one you reach :)
Purely anecdotal, but in my commute, I always made damned sure to not be in the left lane (where maryland house merges in) when i was heading north. Too many people unfamiliae with a high speed merge coming to a stop, and it was usually a pretty big flood of cars. Southbound was never as much of a problem since everyone had already stopped at chesapeake.
I replied right from my ping......obviously we agree about merging into the hammer lane........sheesh, the things i have seen there.
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