View source for Category:644 weigh stations, rest areas, welcome/information centers and commuter parking lots

[[image:644 Rest Areas a.jpg|right|thumb|400px|<center>'''The Conway Welcome Center features a Route 66 theme.'''</center>]]

The general locations for rest areas, welcome/information centers and truck weigh stations are designated by [http://sp/sites/mt/default.aspx Maintenance] and [http://sp/sites/ts/Pages/default.aspx Highway Safety and Traffic] prior to the development of plans for highway improvements.

The [http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/index.html Missouri State Highway Patrol] provides input to Maintenance, and Highway Safety and Traffic, [http://www.modot.org/mcs/index.htm Motor Carrier Services] or General Services  and General Services regarding new locations for fixed and portable weigh stations as well as fixed and portable weigh stations that need to be replaced or upgraded.  Weigh scale facilities are located on interstate and U.S. highway routes to ensure commercial motor vehicles comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of the state.  Fixed scale locations are selected based on the volume of commercial motor vehicles operating on interstate or U.S. routes in a particular area.  Portable scale turnout locations are selected to handle commercial motor vehicles operating on bypass routes and within the commercial zones of the larger metropolitan areas.  
[[image:644 rest area.jpg|left|175px]]
The [http://www.visitmo.com/ Missouri Division of Tourism] provides input to Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic or [http://sp/sites/gs/Pages/default.aspx General Services] regarding new locations for welcome/information centers and rest areas that need to be upgraded to welcome/information center status.
{|style="padding: 0.3em; margin-left:15px; border:1px solid #a9a9a9; text-align:center; font-size: 95%; background:#f5f5f5" width="290px" align="right" 
|-
|'''MSHP and MoDOT Maintenance Responsibilities'''
|-
|[[media:644.3 MSHP memo.pdf|Memorandum of Understanding with the Patrol]]
|-
|'''Additional Rest Area and Welcome Center Information'''
|-
|[http://www.modot.mo.gov/services/travel/restarea/index.htm Missouri's Rest Areas and Welcome Centers]
|}

Upon completing preliminary surveys and determining tentative grades, a conceptual plan is reviewed by the district for determining the location of the weigh station, rest area or welcome/information center with concurrence of Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic and General Services.  The location of fixed and portable weigh stations, rest areas  and welcome/information centers are finalized prior to completing the preliminary plan.  Their locations are indicated on the preliminary plan and Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic and General Services are furnished with a print of the plan prior to preliminary plan approval.

Commuter parking lots are constructed where sufficient usage can be expected and where existing MoDOT right of way is sufficiently large to accommodate a lot.  The location for specific commuter parking lots is determined by district personnel with input from the general public.  Commuter parking lots are usually built with state forces using construction funds.  Commuter lots that have to be relocated due to roadway expansion projects can be included as a part of the overall roadway construction project.
[[image:644 buffalos.jpg|center|750px]]
==644.1 Design Details==
Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic and General Services and district Design provides the design details for weigh stations, rest areas and welcome/information centers.

District Design provides the design details for commuter parking lots.

==644.2 Plans==

===Weigh Stations===
The plans provide for the complete installation of the weigh stations, rest areas or welcome/information centers.  The district is responsible for the satisfactory completion of plans to construct the entire facility with oversight and final approval of the plans by Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic and General Services.  

An engineering consultant  may be selected to perform the following items:  geometric layout, grading, drainage, paving quantities including parking areas and all other roadway items including all plans and specifications for the scale, scale pits and weigh station building.  The design team for the weigh stations must include representatives of the Highway Patrol Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Unit.  Representatives from Highway Safety and Traffic, General Services, Maintenance and Design are to serve as resources to the team.  

Federal funds can be provided for all construction items.  Separate [http://www.modot.mo.gov/business/contractor_resources/biditemslisting.htm bid items] will be provided for the scale and pit, generally financed from highway planning funds.  Non-highway items such as the scale building, vehicle inspection building, heating and cooling units, cabinets and wells are financed from MoDOT funds or Highway Patrol funds.  

All building plans, including wiring, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and sewage along with their special provisions, are to be reviewed and approved by an architect registered in Missouri.  Special provisions and drawings are available from Highway Safety and Traffic and General Services and are to be requested by the design team for plan preparation on projects involving a weigh station.  The special provisions or drawings may be modified when necessary to meet special conditions.  Where entrances are specified from outer roadways to weigh stations located on limited access highways, the type of entrance is indicated by including the notation "Gate Entrance - For Official Use of Weigh Station Only" on the plans.  These entrances may be located within the limits of the no-right-of-access line; however, the no-right-of-access line is not broken or terminated at the entrance.  Other data is listed on the 2B sheet under entrances and approaches.

===Rest Areas and Welcome/Information Centers===
[[image:644.2.jpg|right|500px|thumb|<center>'''A newly constructed welcome center'''</center>]]
An engineering/architect consultant may be selected to perform the following items:  geometric layout, grading, drainage, paving quantities including parking areas and all other roadway items, including all plans and specifications for the rest area or welcome/information center and its appurtenances, or all of the design work may be performed by General Services.

The design team for the rest area or welcome/information center must include representatives of the Missouri Division of Tourism, and representatives from Highway Safety and Traffic, General Services, Maintenance and Design.  Federal funds can be provided for some construction items.  All building plans including wiring, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and sewage, along with their special provisions, are to be reviewed and approved by an architect registered in Missouri.  Special provisions and drawings are available from Maintenance, Highway Safety and Traffic and General Services and are to be requested by the design team for plan preparation on projects involving a rest area or welcome/information center.  The special provisions or drawings may be modified when necessary to meet special conditions.  Where entrances are specified from [[232.5 Freeways#Outer Roads and Service Roads|outer roadways]] to rest areas or welcome/information centers located on limited access highways, the type of entrance is indicated by including the notation "Gate Entrance - For Official Use Only" on the plans.  These entrances may be located within the limits of the no-right-of-access line; however, the no-right-of-access line is not broken or terminated at the entrance.  Other data is listed on the 2B sheet under entrances and approaches.

===Commuter Parking Lots===
[[image:644 commuter.jpg|right|310px]]
A district Design team develop the drawings for specific [http://traveler.modot.org/map/?commuter_lots=true commuter lots] and provide the design plans to the district maintenance forces for construction of the commuter lot.  The [[903.10 General Service Signs#903.10.9 EMERGENCY DIAL *55 Sign (D12-4a)|EMERGENCY DIAL *55 Sign (D12-4a)]] and [[903.5 Regulatory Signs#903.5.26 Parking, Standing and Stopping Signs (R7 and R8 Series) (MUTCD Section 2B.46)|NO PARKING ALL TRAILERS AND TRUCKS OVER 6 TONS (R7-36)]] shall be erected at each commuter lot.  Also refer to [[903.7 Conventional Road Guide Signs#903.7.42 Parking Area Signs (D4-1 Series) (MUTCD Section 2D.40)|Parking Area Signs (D4-1 Series)]] for additional signing necessary at commuter lots.

==644.3 Weigh Station, Rest Area and Commuter Lot Maintenance Responsibilities==

Maintenance responsibilities for weigh stations are specified in the [[media:644.3 MSHP memo.pdf|Memorandum of Understanding with the Patrol]].  District staff is responsible for maintenance of specific components of the rest areas and welcome/information centers with oversight provided by Central Office Maintenance and General Services.  Commuter lots are maintained by district forces.

The general responsibilities of MSHP and MoDOT are:
* Weigh stations and surrounding grounds will be kept neat, clean and in good repair.

* MoDOT will generally be responsible for exterior maintenance of the buildings.  Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) will generally be responsible for interior maintenance of the buildings.

* The weigh station MSHP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Supervisor will initiate an informal request to the local MoDOT maintenance area supervisor when routine maintenance is necessary.

* MSHP Troop Commanders shall contact the district engineer by letter when requesting major improvements for upgrades.

* Both MSHP and MoDOT will conduct annual inspections to jointly review and discuss maintenance items.

The 13 MSHP and 16 MoDOT responsibilities are listed in the memorandum of understanding.

[[image:644.3.jpg|center|750px]]