Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

MnDOT Policies

Safety Rest Areas

MnDOT Policy #OE003
Revised: February 7, 2022
Reviewed: February 27, 2024

View/print signed policy (PDF)

Safety Rest Area Procedures and Requirements

Please go to the MnDOT Org Chart to find specific contact information: Org Chart.

Responsible Senior Officer: Deputy Commissioner/Chief Engineer
Policy Owner: Director, Office of Project Management and Technical Support
Policy Contact: State Rest Area Program Manager

Policy statement

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) manages Safety Rest Areas (SRAs) to provide the traveling public in Minnesota with a coordinated system of rest areas to help motorists travel safer, smarter, and more efficiently.  SRAs may be managed to provide parking, resting, restroom, picnicking, orientation, travel information, and other facilities for the convenience of the traveling public. This policy establishes the requirements for publication distribution, memorials, and other permitted activities at Class I and Class II Safety Rest Areas (SRAs), including Travel Information Centers, Welcome Centers, and Visitor Centers.

Publication Distribution (Newsracks)

  • Publications may only be distributed through newsracks that comply with this policy and the Safety Rest Area Procedures and Requirements.
  • Applications for newsrack permits are accepted on an annual basis from March 1 through April 15.
  • Annual permits expire on May 15 each year.
  • MnDOT may issue up to eight (8) non-duplicative newsrack permits per SRA.

Memorials

  • Memorials that simply acknowledge an individual, group, or event are not allowed at SRAs.
  • MnDOT may permit a memorial that is an integral part of a motorist service or amenity that directly supports a rest area purpose, such as installation of interpretive exhibits or the development of a walking trail for SRA users.

Other Permitted Activities

  • MnDOT may issue permits for activities that provide for the safety and convenience of the traveling public.
  • Activities must not interfere with the normal use of the SRA facilities by the public.
  • Activities must be free of charge.

MnDOT has established Safety Rest Area Procedures and Requirements for publication distribution, memorials, and other permitted activities. The procedures and requirements include details about application and selection, special provisions, newsrack requirements, violations and remedial action, and insurance requirements.

Reason for policy

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is required by Minnesota Statutes §86A.05, subdivision 12 and Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §§752.3(a) and 752.5, to manage SRAs.

SRAs are established to promote a safe, pleasurable, and informative travel experience along Minnesota highways by providing areas and facilities at reasonable intervals for information, emergencies, or the rest and comfort of travelers (Minn. Stat. §86A.05, subdivision 12(a)). The purpose of this policy is to ensure that permitted activities at SRAs do not negatively affect the public use and enjoyment of the facilities.

Without formal oversight of publication distribution, memorials, and permitted activities, SRAs have experienced excessive litter, vandalism, rodent infestation, and complaints from motorists which negatively affect SRA aesthetics, burden SRA resources, and endanger the safety and welfare of the traveling public. Additionally, lack of oversight may cause Minnesota rest areas to lose their status as non-public forums which may result in the need for MnDOT to create free speech zones at all rest areas.

The intent of this policy is to comply with state and federal SRA laws through management of the distribution of publications and oversight of travel-related activities at SRAs.

Applicability

All MnDOT employees must comply with this policy.

Key stakeholders with responsibilities under this policy include:

  • Applicants/publishers/permittees
  • District Area Maintenance Engineer
  • District Permits Staff
  • District Building Supervisors
  • MnDOT Deputy Commissioner/Chief Engineer
  • Safety Rest Area Program Manager
  • Statewide Custodial Services Provider

With respect to the distribution of publications, this policy generally does not apply to the following entities:

  • State government units, including Explore Minnesota Tourism, Department of Natural Resources, State Patrol staff, or their contractors; and
  • SRA facility partners or State Services for the Blind, operating under Minnesota Statutes §160.272 -§160.273.

Definitions

Activity or Activities

The collective acts of an individual, group, or entity engaged in a common enterprise that demonstrably supports the purposes of SRAs.

Applicant

Any individual, group, or entity that desires to distribute publications or engage in another activity at a MnDOT SRA.

Class I Safety Rest Area

A rest area facility that is open 24 hours per day and features flush toilets, drinking fountains, maps, picnic facilities, lighted walkways, lighted car, RV, and commercial truck parking lots, and other site amenities.

Class II Safety Rest Area

A seasonally operated rest area facility featuring vault toilets, picnic facilities, paved parking lots, and other site amenities.

Newsrack

Any self-service or coin-operated box, container, storage unit, or other dispenser owned, installed, used, and maintained by a publisher for the sale or distribution of publications at a MnDOT SRA.

Permittee

Any individual, group, or entity permitted by MnDOT to perform an activity at a SRA.

Publisher

Any individual, group, or entity approved by MnDOT to distribute publications at a SRA.

Safety Rest Area (SRA)

A roadside facility designated by the Commissioner of Transportation as a rest area or as a welcome, travel, visitor, or tourist information center, which is removed from the traveled way with parking and such facilities for the motorist as is necessary for the traveling public’s rest, relaxation, comfort, and information needs.

See Minnesota Statutes §86A.05, subd. 12 and Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §§752.3(a) and 752.5. The definition of SRA includes the facilities described in 23 U.S.C §111(b).

Responsibilities

Applicant/Publisher/Permittee

  • Submit the appropriate application form or request, and other materials described in the Safety Rest Area Procedures and Requirements.
  • Procure and maintain commercial general liability insurance during the term of the permit and agree to assume liability and hold MnDOT and the State harmless for any and all direct and consequential damages caused by the newsrack, publication, or other activity.
  • Comply with the permit, this policy, and its companion document, “Safety Rest Area Procedures and Requirements.”

District Area Maintenance Engineer

  • Provide feedback to the SRA Program Manager regarding the exact location of proposed newsracks and recommendations with respect to requests for other SRA activities.

District Permits Staff

  • Process applications for permits to conduct an activity at SRAs, as approved by the SRA Program Manager.
  • Maintain and manage permits authorized under this policy.
  • Forward copies of the permit to the District Building Supervisors and to the statewide custodial service provider.

District Building Supervisors

  • Provide recommendations to the SRA Program Manager regarding the location of newsracks at SRAs and requests for other SRA activities.

MnDOT Deputy Commissioner/Chief Engineer

  • Conduct informal hearings upon request.

Safety Rest Area (SRA) Program Manager

  • Review applications, requests and submitted materials to determine if application meets requirements of this policy and related procedures and requirements.
  • Reject applications and requests not complying with this policy and related procedures and requirements.
  • Solicit feedback from the District Building Supervisor, District Area Maintenance Engineer, the statewide custodial service provider, and any SRA partners regarding the location of newsracks and requests for other SRA activities.
  • Assist District Permit staff with processing permit applications for other SRA activities.
  • Take any remedial action deemed necessary and appropriate to address noncompliance with the permit, this policy, or the related procedures and requirements.

Statewide Custodial Services Provider

  • Upon request, provide feedback to SRA Program Manager regarding the exact location of proposed newsracks and recommendations for requests for other SRA activities.
  • Assist with identifying abandoned newsracks.
  • Monitor permitted activities.
  • Assist MnDOT in the management of distributed publications.

Policy Owner (Director, Office of Project Management and Technical Support)

  • Review the policy every two years, or sooner as necessary, to ensure the policy remains up-to-date.
  • Ensure procedures, requirements, and other documents associated with the policy remain current.
  • Monitor state, federal, enterprise, agency, or other requirements that apply to the policy or procedures.
  • Consult with the Office of Chief Counsel to ensure the policy and procedures remain compliant with all state, federal, enterprise, agency, or other requirements.
  • Ensure that necessary approvals by state or federal agencies are obtained before changes to the policy or procedures are implemented.
  • Work with the Policy Coordinator to revise the policy and/or confirm its accuracy.
  • Communicate policy revisions, reviews, and retirements to stakeholders.

Resources and related information

Forms

Processes, Procedures, and Instructions

Resources

History and updates

Adopted

March 3, 2014

Revised

  • First Revision: February 7, 2022 (also renumbered as #OE003 from #OP003)
    • Updated definition of Class I Safety Rest Area: April 26, 2023

Policy Review

  • February 27, 2024 - added 3 policy owner responsibilities to match revised template.

This policy's next scheduled review is due February 2026.