Closing of most rest areas in La. (1 Viewer)

[FWtex]

As a leisure traveler, I have no problems with this. I'd be curious as to what the truckers think about it though.

It could be another anti business mark against the state if truckers complain about picking up loads and having to drive through the state.

 

[TDH]

This part is telling:

"We came up with 13 areas that could be closed and not cause people any inconvenience," Fletcher said. "To demolish and redesign these rest areas would cost between $8 and $10 million each. That is just too much money to take away from roads and bridges."

We're basically feeding our addiction for speed. We are becoming more like the hare and less like the tortoise every year.

 

[stunpals]

When driving to and from Baton Rouge/Tulsa - the only one I used to stop at on I-20 was the welcome to Texas one(leaving La). It's really nice. The only decent one on the drive to La down I-49 I always miss somehow.

 

[johnnyd]

Stopped in the Atchafalaya rest stop yesterday. That has to be the cleanest rest stop I have ever been to. Was kind of wierd how you get to it though.

 

[Shockmo]

That's the one. It's really nice now, I swear.

And some people didn't believe i used to live over that way.

 

[threexcharm]

What do you think of this? Unfriendly to tourists? Now when you want to travel here you have to get the key on a stick from the toothless wonder at the dirty Chevron.

Oh....I see that you have met my ex-wife?

Joe

 

[Thorin]

And some people didn't believe i used to live over that way.

Ok, so where precisely did you dump the bodies?

 

[Saint by the Bay]

This is a trend in many states these days. It increases revenue for businesses along the route as they become the primary stopping points. As many small towns have seen business close down in favor of Walmart, Home Depot etc. this is especially important for small town business owners looking to focus on a different type of consumer by relocating directly off the interstate.

Good move for the state. Nobody makes a dime when people stop at rest areas and these days with entire exits dedicated to travelers the need is no longer there for more than welcome centers at the borders.

 

[rob021275]

Well, at least these have bathrooms -- unlike several in Mississippi that, are in effect, nothing but glorified shoulders.

 

[Shawn]

That's the thing, the ones in Louisiana (that I have frequented) are (were) very nice. It was one thing about La that I took pride in. Oh well.

I know. Sure, I like them a lot...I'm just trying to sort out how much of this is an appeal to nostalgia, and how much is really a necessity.

 

[Thorin]

When all of the nostalgia is gone from this state, what's left I wonder? Just a bunch of Applebee's and Olive Gardens. I will dread the day when we look like everyplace else on the map.

 

[TPS]

>>...this is especially important for small town business owners looking to focus on a different type of consumer by relocating directly off the interstate.

A-rabs and Pakistanis own many/most of the gas stations and convenience stores down in this part of the state. And legislators own all that land.

TPS

 

[Saint by the Bay]

>>...this is especially important for small town business owners looking to focus on a different type of consumer by relocating directly off the interstate.

A-rabs and Pakistanis own many/most of the gas stations and convenience stores down in this part of the state. And legislators own all that land.

TPS

That hasn't been my experience making that drive 10-15 times per year from Houston to New Orleans. Ive probably hit every store along the way and almost all are owned by locals. One guy, a local at a stop between Lake Charles and Lafayette, specifically told me he moved his hardware store there after Home Depot basically shut him down. He said he does pretty well now between truckers and RV's (he made his store more of an auto parts store with tools now). I was there picking up a wrench for a guy whose car had broken down a few exits back and he didn't have the tools to get it running and had kids with him.

 

[Thorin]

...I was there picking up a wrench for a guy whose car had broken down a few exits back and he didn't have the tools to get it running and had kids with him.

You are better than the average bear SBTB.

 

[TPS]

>>Ive probably hit every store along the way...

Key is, "along the way." More of our stores in da boyah are nice, white Cajun proprietors. But once in the city, where I am now and hence this part of the state, that is not the case. The BP on Metairie Rd. was A-rabs, the Shell was A-rabs, Discount Zone was A-rabs and Exxon On the Run on N. Causeway is A-rabs.

TPS