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Previous research sponsored by the Minnesota DOT (Mn/DOT) documented the state of truck parking issues throughout Minnesota. The study specifically examined the supply and demand of public and private commercial vehicle parking along Minnesota's three primary Interstate corridors: I-35, I-90, and I-94. Results of the study were published in January 2008. This report revealed some critical parking capacity issues at many of the state's rest area facilities and concluded that further research would be necessary to identify potential remedies to improve truck parking into the future. Mn/DOT funded this second phase with the objective of determining opportunities for expanding truck parking where needed across Minnesota. Existing research suggests that although interstate and intercity truck parking may be very limited and marginally expanding existing congested facilities would be useful, parking in urban core areas was overwhelmingly identified as the key truck parking problem in Minnesota. Therefore, Phase 2 looked at parking both in the Twin Cities and in greater Minnesota.

More than 15 percent of the traveling public stops at Travel Information Centers throughout the state, and recent studies project continued growth in that number. By providing information centers at most of our Class I Rest Areas, state agencies could reach more than two million customers. Increased collaboration among state agencies can help in effectively and efficiently meeting this growing need. In May 1993, representatives of the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) met to identify such opportunities for collaboration. As a result, the two agencies, with funding from the Breakthrough Innovations Program, guided the development of a touch screen information system that supplies a variety of information, including major attractions, state parks and forests, outdoor activities, calendar of events, accommodations and camping, road information, weather, mapping, and safety and regional services. Three units, known as Travel Partners kiosks, began operating on a test basis in 1994. The project improved the delivery of information to customers, and also opened the door to future collaborations. The report details the project's history, results, and future efforts.

This project funded the manufacture and installation of 36 advance rest area signs along Interstate 35 (I-35), I-94 and State Highway 371, most of which included three-line listings of amenities at the rest area. The summary publication describes a customer service feedback survey. Among respondents, 33 percent indicated they had seen the signs, and another 29 percent indicated they were not sure if they had. Of these respondent groups, 61 percent described the advance signage as useful. The survey did not determine which listed amenities proved attractive or compelling to rest area users, but survey questions have been revised and the project team continues to gather responses.

This Implementation Summary pertains to the 2018 research project “Safety Rest Area Advance Signing Enhancements Phase 2 Design.” The project included a customer service feedback survey, a summary of which is available in 2019-15A, Rest Area Sign Analysis.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2010-34, “Mn/DOT Truck Parking Study: Phase 2,” published November 2010.

The purpose of this survey is to determine the length of time and how oversized vehicle operators utilize the rest areas along 1-94 in outstate Minnesota during nighttime hours. "Oversized Vehicle" indicates any vehicle larger than a standard size car or pick-up truck (defined as vehicles falling into FHWA Classes 7 through 12). To assess oversized vehicle usage, three rest areas along 1-94 were surveyed. The three rest areas are the Iverson Lake Rest Area, Lake Lakota Rest Area, and the Big Spunk Lake Rest Area. All three rest areas are located between Fergus Falls and Saint Cloud. They are sequentially spaced in approximately 50-mile increments and all three serve eastbound 1-94 traffic heading in the direction of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), Office of Technical Support - Site Development Unit, conducted a rest area user survey at the Kettle River Safety Rest Area, serving north bound travelers on 1-35, located 5 miles north of Sandstone, Minnesota, from August 8 through 12, 1996. The objective of rest area user surveys is to collect user data during an average summer travel weekend and to verify or modify statewide design criteria developed for safety rest area planning, location and design. Pertinent information collected includes percent of vehicles stopping, traffic classification, number of persons per vehicle, and motorist use of facilities.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) operates a network of 55 full-service safety rest areas along the Interstate and high-volume non-interstate highways. Since 1969, Mn/DOT has conducted surveys at safety rest areas throughout the state. This data has provided the basis for determining the size of buildings and parking lots and has also been used to validate and identify services that the public uses and desires to have available at safety rest areas. To supplement this information and to improve the level of understanding of safety rest area users as well as non-users, the Site Development Unit, with assistance from the Market Research Unit, conducted several market research studies during 1997 and 1998. Each of these studies were designed to expand Mn/DOT's understanding of a specific market segment in order to improve the delivery of safety rest area services.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) operates a network of 55 full-service safety rest areas along the Interstate and high-volume non-interstate highways. Since 1969, Mn/DOT has conducted surveys at safety rest areas throughout the state. This data has provided the basis for determining the size of buildings and parking lots and has also been used to validate and identify services that the public uses and desires to have available at safety rest areas. To supplement this information and to improve the level of understanding of safety rest area users as well as non-users, the Site Development Unit, with assistance from the Market Research Unit, conducted several market research studies during 1997 and 1998. Each of these studies were designed to expand Mn/DOT's understanding of a specific market segment in order to improve the delivery of safety rest area services.