Originally planned to be a traditional highway rest area, the Randolph
County were upgraded to Welcome Centers at the request of local officials.
NCDOT was going to use $1 million in federal money to build the Welcome
Centers. It would also cost the state $180,000 annually to operate.
The bill orders the DOT and the Department of Commerce to consult and gain
the legislatures approval for any future Welcome Centers.
Story:
http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/APN/705031990
I think it's a good idea, myself. It wouldn't have to be called a
"Welcome Center", but could be made into a tourism information center.
How much more expensive could a tourism information center be? It
can't be all that much more than just a rest area. The only difference
would be adding on a wing to the restroom building, and hiring a
couple of elderly retirees (or heck, get volunteers) to sit behind the
counter and stock brochures.
Great point. I do wonder if this gets stopped, what will become of the
$1,000,000 in federal funds for the Welcome Center..or if it was for the
Rest Area as a whole.