# Presentation: 841659

## Interstate Oasis ProgramTalking Freight SeminarJuly 19, 2006

- Hari Kalla
- MUTCD Team Leader
- FHWA

## What is an Interstate Oasis?

_**Off-freeway**_** facility, **_**such as**_** truck stop**
**Supplement public rest areas**
**A Rest Area/Stop Within Public Right-of-way is **_**NOT**_** an Interstate Oasis**

## SAFETEA-LU Section 1310:  Interstate Oasis Program  

**Secretary of Transportation shall:**
**Establish an Interstate Oasis Program **
**Develop standards for designating a facility as an Interstate Oasis**
**Facility must offer:**
** ****Products and services to the public**
** ****24-hour access to restrooms**
** ****Parking for autos and heavy trucks**
**Facility must meet other standards as established by Secretary**

**Notes:**
Vermont and Utah have established programs (Utah’s sign is shown for illustration purposes only)
Had stakeholder workshop in December (AASHTO, MISA, organizations representing truck stop operators, independent truckers, others) --- Barry Warhoftig and 3 other State DOTs participated.

## Standards for designation must include criteria relating to:
 Appearance of facility
 Proximity of facility to Interstate Highway
If a State elects to participate in program, any facility meeting standards established by Secretary shall be eligible for designation as Oasis
Interstate Oasis Logo

** ****Appearance of facility**
** ****Proximity of facility to Interstate Highway**
**If a State elects to participate in program, any facility meeting standards established by Secretary shall be eligible for designation as Oasis**
**Interstate Oasis Logo**

**SAFETEA-LU Section 1310:  ****Interstate Oasis Program**

**Notes:**
Secretary shall design a logo to be displayed by facility designated as Oasis

## Existing Utah & Vermont Programs

**UTAH DOT sign for ILLUSTRATION ONLY**

## Interstate Oasis Program  

** ****AASHTO**
** ****NATSO**
** ****OOIDA **
** ****MISA**
** ****UT & VT DOTs**
** ****Others**
** ****2/06 Federal Register request for comments**
** “****Non-rulemaking”**
**  ****Draft program & criteria**
**  ****9 Questions – input to help finalize program**

**Interstate Oasis Program****  **

**Notes:**
Non-rulemaking Federal Register Notice published Feb. 2006
First draft of program---minimum national eligibility criteria
Requested comments on draft and on several specific questions (including signing details), to help further refine and finalize program
After review of comments, plan to publish final policy in Federal Register (Summer ’06?)
Symbol (probably some form of palm tree) needs research before adopting---probably word message only on signs initially
Adopt symbol and text on eligibility criteria & signing into future MUTCD edition via normal rulemaking process

## Draft Program Criteria

- No more than 3 miles from an Interchange
- Accessibility from Interstate Highway
- Physical lay-out
- Rest rooms and drinking water
- Adequate Parking for all vehicles (Trucks allowed for 10 hrs)
- Staffed 24/7
- Products and services:
- Public Phones/food/Fuel, oil, and water for vehicles

## Interstate Oasis ProgramSome Issues

**Max. distance from interchange?**
**How to assess safety & convenience of access route & on-site layout?**
**No. and duration of truck parking **
**What required products & svcs?**
**Logo design?**
**Freeway signing for Oasis & relationship to Specific Service Signs (gas, food “logo” signs)**

## Status

**Status**

**Docket closed 4/28/06**
** ****39 comments – reviewed & analyzed**
** ****Good input, revisions made**
**No clear consensus on logo design**
** ****Final policy in Federal Register                   later this summer**
** ****Symbol—needs human factors study**
** ****Normal rulemaking process                               to add symbol & text to                                  MUTCD in future**

## For More Information

- _[http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/](http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/)_
- _[http://dms.dot.gov/](http://dms.dot.gov/)_
- FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2006-23550

## Questions?

- Hari Kalla
- (202) 366-5915
- Hari.Kalla@dot.gov