The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is soliciting proposals from private firms for redevelopment of 21 service plazas.

According to the Post-Gazette, special tractor trailer lots will be part of the redevelopment, which will include Wi-Fi hotspots inside and “high-tech hookups and electrical outlets that truckers can tap into so their rigs don't sit with their diesel engines idling.”
The plan calls for six convenience store-type service plazas, 12 full-service plazas and three dual-access service plazas serving traffic from both sides of the turnpike. Turnpike officials expect the new-look service plazas to experiment with programs, such as using E-ZPass and other cashless systems to buy fuel or charge food at drive-thru windows.
According to the paper, HMS Inc. (Host-Marriott Services) currently operates 15 turnpike service plazas; McDonald's fast-food chain, one and Arby's, one.
As planned, the projects should be financed totally from private funds. In the past, 30% to 40% of service plaza costs were paid by the turnpike.
The turnpike expects to select the best development proposal or combination of proposals by Sept. 30, and work on the plazas should begin early next year.
According to the turnpike web site, the road was used by an average 61,090 commercial vehicles a day in 2002, comprising 13% of turnpike traffic.

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