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 ...
What a waste of money! I routinely stop at these “Welcome Centers,” and they are perfectly fine as they are. One of the two of them is actually QUITE nice.
Yes, that $400 million means that Roy Rogers is going to cost $5 a wing, and a Pretzel $8.
OTOH, if the state of Maryland figures it can do this instead of collecting the $400 million in taxes, well I guess that’s up to the Maryland residents. I can always pack my lunch. But it does make the term, “welcome center” a bit ironic.
I imagine that the cost of electrical charging stations is pretty close to a per-unit charge. If so, I think by all means they should build a unit or two. This is the most heavily travelled corridor (DC to Boston) in the nation, and I’d think that they would have the demand. But I’d share a suspicion that the state would want to create some kind of grand showcase, using it as a way of pitching e-cars.
Until they recently redesigned and rebuilt the I-95 – 695 (Baltimore Beltway) interchange it was rated as one of the most dangerous in the country. To go north from the east Beltway onto I-95 North, you’d have to be in the fast lane of 695 and then enter I-95 in the fast lane and if you wanted to get off at the next exit, White Marsh (a major shopping area), you’d have to get over four lanes of fast moving traffic in a very short distance. Oh, the crazy things I saw there.
Back when, the part of I-95 where the Chesapeake House and Maryland House is located was a toll road so getting on and off the highway was not so easy. That and Belair and Aberdeen and Churchville were little hick towns. Today there are lots of places to get off I-95 in that area if you need a rest stop or gas.
There are many restaurants, gas stations, hotels, etc. right off those exits now.
There’s no good reason to even have Chesapeake House and Maryland House anymore, live alone spend the money (tax payer money) to upgrade them.
I took 895, and before the costruction, had to make sure I was in the right lane, or I had a beotch of a time getting out of the left lane which became the turn lane for 695w. Have not been through for a year and a half, so it will be interesting to see the changes.
Of course they will, eveyone wants to sit at a rest area for 6 hours waiting to charge the car to get to the next rest area.
I’m thinking of installing a small door on my car with a female receptacle so I can park free at the primo space and plug in my “Converted to electric” car.
I commute past Maryland House every day. I’m very wary of the semi’s lining up to take a break. Semi’s are not allowed in far left lane ever unless for egress so it’s unusual territory for them.
BTW, there are several decent geocaches at Maryland House.
Suspect not, know that it is exactly that. Batteries are decades away from longevity, durability and cost......the green movement stepped into it big time. Pushing alternative to replace primary is idiotic. Alternative has it's place maybe at my house as a cost saver, but not as a reliable primary source.
Increasing energy efficiency has always been the direction to go, but as the cost of stupidity, a la, banning incandescent bulbs, while ignoring the environmental hazards of fluorescents.
AGW has instituted a hastiness in decision making that we'll be paying for decades.
From the south?
It’s 30 mi from the north-east state line!
If it’s a “welcome” center, it’s useless by then, from the south!
Even if they were just simple rest stops, they’re too close together (some 20mi) while no others exist for miles.
What recent redesign and build?
AFAIK that exact interchange (eastBOUND beltway) has been unchanged for 25+ years.
(I also never found moving over to White Marsh hard - unless maybe you’re talking AT rush hour. Similar situation, much worse, definitely shorter, is beltway to 83 to Timonium Rd.)
Too true, don’t know what bright bulb decided to put them so close together. There isn’t another stop until about 20 mins south of 695. And actually pulling off one of the exits for gas is a nightmare, since between balt and dc is so congested. First commuter rule: always gas up at home before getting onto the 95 system. No easy gas stations quick on/off the highway.
I think Chesapeake house is only about 10 mins south of DE.
Delaware just rebuilt their only rest area on I-95 (which is probably about 5 miles above the state line) and it looks nice.
PA rebuilt theirs on I-95 which is just past the DE/PA state line.
Guess MOM doesn't want the other states to have newer toys than he has.
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