Free Wi-Fi for RVers,
others, at Texas rest areas

AUSTIN (May 26, 2004) — Travelers with recreational vehicles will soon be able to get online at all Texas rest areas. The state has become the first in the nation to provide free wireless Internet access at its safety rest areas, the Texas Department of Transportation announced today.

TxDOT began experimenting with wireless Internet service last fall, when the department provided the capability at twin rest areas on U.S. 287 in Donley County. Free wireless service also is available at two rest areas on the same highway in Hardeman County.

“The feedback we’ve received so far has been very positive,” said Andy Keith, Safety Rest Area Program Manager for TxDOT’s Maintenance Division. “Texas’ highways are seeing an increasing number of business travelers, truckers and RVers and access to email is important to them. They have really responded favorably to our four ‘hot spots’ on U.S. 287.”

TxDOT has taken the first step to expand the service to all of its 84 safety rest areas and 12 Travel Information Centers by issuing a request for offer seeking vendors able to provide free wireless Internet service and pay telephone-like Internet access at kiosks.

Keith said he envisions computers in the kiosks being available in 15 minute increments by swiping a credit card through a reader. But wireless access will be free for anyone with their own equipment.

“Over 50 million people a year visit our rest areas,” Keith said. “When we get this program up and running, anyone with wireless equipped laptops or other devices will be able to send email or browse the Internet for free at our safety rest areas and travel information centers. People not traveling with wireless equipment will be able to connect to the Internet at kiosks for a reasonable fee to be collected by the vendor.”

 “We think this will be a huge win-win for Texas’ travelers,” Keith said. “Knowing free Internet service is available at our rest areas will get drivers to make regular stops. Since fatigue is a factor in 1.5 percent of all crashes, anything we can do to get people to pull off the road and take a break is going to make our highways safer.”

An estimated 1,500 people die in fatigue-related crashes each year in the United States, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics. An additional 77,000 are injured.

“The safety rest areas are there to make the roadways safer for today’s traveling public,” Keith said. “Wireless Internet access meets the modern traveler’s needs so we want this to happen as quickly as possible.”

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