(UPDATED) Truckstop and convenience store interests are opposed to a provision of the House transportation bill that would allow states to privatize interstate rest areas.


The Partnership to Save Highway Communities urged members of Congress to oppose Amendment 217 of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012, which it says could jeopardize thousands of businesses operating at the exits along the nation's Interstate Highway System.


Amendment 217, sponsored by Republican Rep. Steven LaTourette and Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, of Ohio, seeks to overturn the 50-year-old law prohibiting the sale of food, fuel and convenience items at interstate rest areas and instead allow states to use rest areas on interstate highways for non-highway uses, including commercial activities. (Ohio Republican Steve Stivers originally was a sponsor but has withdrawn his support for the bill.)

This amendment goes beyond language in the bill that would open rest areas up to advertisers, and let them sell a variety of goods "serving the traveling public," including "tourism-related" products, ATMS and lottery machines, reports the Huffington Post.

"This amendment is the biggest threat small business owners have ever faced under a highway bill," says Lisa Mullings, president and CEO of truckstop group Natso, and a member of the Partnership to Save Highway Communities. "This highway bill was intended to create jobs, but if this amendment is allowed to pass it will pull the rug out from under the nation's Interstate-based fast food franchisees, convenience stores, gas stations and truck stops.

"Commercializing Interstate rest areas would put exit-based businesses at a considerable disadvantage, likely forcing many out of business," Mullings says. "This will have a substantial effect on local communities, increase unemployment, decrease local tax revenues and impede overall economic growth."

In a recent study of commercial rest areas, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that commercializing rest areas nationwide could cause a 46% decrease in sales at interstate-serving gas stations, a 44% decrease in sales at interstate-serving restaurants, and a 35% decrease in truck service sales at truckstops.

Statistics in Rep. LaTourette's, Rep. Stivers' and Rep. Kucinich's home state of Ohio bear this out, says the group. Along the Ohio Turnpike, where commercialization is permitted, 109 businesses operate along the 239 miles of the Turnpike. Along I-75, where commercial rest area are prohibited, 1,036 businesses operate along 212 miles. Similarly, I-70 has 870 businesses along 248 miles and I-70 has 718 businesses along 226 miles.

Currently, nearly 97,000 small businesses operate within a quarter mile of the Interstate Highway System and employ more than 2 million people, according to the partnership.

UPDATED 11:10 a.m. EST 2/16/2012 to indicate Rep. Stivers' withdrawal of his name from support of the bill.