MTAC testifies on rest areas funding legislation

This week, MTAC President Joe Sculley testified in support of a bill which would fully fund Connecticut’s state-owned rest areas. Sculley explained that funding has been cut so that the rest areas are only staffed from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The buildings are locked at all other times, and there is no staff around. However, truck…

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This week, MTAC President Joe Sculley testified in support of a bill which would fully fund Connecticut’s state-owned rest areas.

Sculley explained that funding has been cut so that the rest areas are only staffed from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The buildings are locked at all other times, and there is no staff around. However, truck drivers need to take breaks at all hours of the day in order to comply with federal Hours of Service regulations. Full funding for state-owned rest areas so that they are all staffed 24 hours per day is important for the trucking industry.

Sculley said it can often be difficult to find safe and legal parking spaces because Connecticut has been identified by a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) study as having a severe shortage of safe parking.

He pointed out that at the time the funding for rest areas was cut, news reports stated that it would save the state $2 million per year, but based on this year’s budget figures, that amount is only 0.1% of the Special Transportation Fund budget.

To see a copy of the complete testimony, click here.

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