IDOT wants public input on rest stops

Posted on October 13, 2017
Illinois Route 157
IDOT has posted a survey online to get feedback on how to improve its rest areas. (Photo by Doug Kerr/flickr)

By RFD Radio/WFMB

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Transportation officials are rethinking the layout and role of the state’s highway rest areas in the Digital Age.

IDOT’s Kelsea Gurski said the agency has posted an online survey seeking public input.

“Many of our facilities are about 30 to 40 years old, and it’s time to start planning for their future,” Gurski said.

Gurski says the rest stops aren’t just a convenience, they’re a proactive life saver for drowsy drivers and those who would be in their path.

“One of the things that we are going to be looking into, in addition to getting travel feedback through this survey, is information like fatigue-related crash data to really help us understand where crashes might occur that might be related to fatigue, ” Gurski said.

The 20-question survey is available at www.idot.illinois.gov, is available through Oct. 29. IDOT maintains a system of 30 rest areas and 11 welcome centers on highways throughout the state, serving more than 36 million visitors annually.

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