DOT eyes Subway for rest-stop concessions

The state is negotiating an agreement with a regional Subway restaurant franchiser to run the lucrative highway plazas, ending long-running contracts with Mobil Oil and McDonald's. The Department of Transportation is in talks with a company called Doctor's Associates-Paul Landino, said Judd Everhart, DOT spokesman.

[Anonymous]

I hope this dumb-ass move to get subways in there is not to the exclusion of McDonalds. Have you ever really taken a look at the gray edges around what subway calls ....blleeecchhh.. cold cuts? They don't have the variety, either. Is there such a thing as a breakfast sub?. The rest areas will wind up looking like the old scummy sludgy slimy cafeterias before Mickey Ds saved the day. Another incompetent, incomprehensible DOT failure-fiasco-catastrohe. Would you trust DOT with your food? Blleeecchhh!

[Smoothie King]

Five. Five dollar. Five dollar foot-looooong.

[DBB]

I suggest we adopt the NY/NJ model of multiple vendors in each rest stop. This would offer variety and more people stopping. I agree the money generated should do directly to the transportaion system and the local towns these rest stpos reside in as they will be taking business away from local businesses.

[Dunce]

Kumar ate at the McDonald's? I thought he and Harold ate at White Castle?!?!

[Denny]

Bring back Denny's

[Baseball Mom]

That is stupid it should be in addition to McDonalds. You cannot get breakfast at Subway. It does not taste great in the morning. Sometimes the smell even gets to me at Wal-Mart in the morning.

[YESSS]

I think this is a GREAT idea.

McDonalds is absolutely disgusting, we need more options that are WORTH eating.

As someone mentioned before, we should take tips from Jersey, they do rest stops right!

[95 Commuter]

The CT rest areas are an embarrassment to the state. I never stop in CT and pass right on through to the clean and well maintained MA rest stops. They need a complete face lift and much more to offer travelers - especially clean rest rooms!

[Marco from Stratford]

Many of remember the HOJOS along the highway, and back then when we were told that they were all switching to MCD's we didn't get it. How could you go from a nice healthy sit down meal, to unhealthy speedy burgers and fries? Its been sad that this is the food that has represented our state for the past 20yrs to stranger driving thru.

I think Subway is a good start, but lets look at the rest stops on the Mass Pke, or thru upstate NY. Huge varity for everyone.

God Bless America

[Abolish The Fed]

DBB wrote:

I suggest we adopt the NY/NJ model of multiple vendors in each rest stop. This would offer variety and more people stopping. I agree the money generated should do directly to the transportaion system and the local towns these rest stpos reside in as they will be taking business away from local businesses.

Good idea, that certainly more closely emulates the free market.

[Anonymous]

And just how and where is the state going to acquire and annex the property that's needed to emulate Mass/NY/NJ - type rest stops? And don't you think that the limp-wristed screaming NIMBY pantywastes are going to squeak and squawk about the rest area axpansions and send the spineless politicians cowering for cover?

[Jeff]

Subway- healthy? Who are you trying to fool?

How many truck drivers are on this road daily? Most of them want - and deserve - full-service, healthy meals... not this grab-&-go garbage.

Multiple vendors is the route to go... but provide some genuinely healthy choices.

[Anonymous]

Marco from Stratford wrote:

Many of remember the HOJOS along the highway, and back then when we were told that they were all switching to MCD's we didn't get it. How could you go from a nice healthy sit down meal, to unhealthy speedy burgers and fries? Its been sad that this is the food that has represented our state for the past 20yrs to stranger driving thru.
I think Subway is a good start, but lets look at the rest stops on the Mass Pke, or thru upstate NY. Huge varity for everyone.
God Bless America

Last time I was at a NY or MA multiple vendor rest stop, I saw nothing but fast-food: speedy burgers, speedy hot dogs, speedy pizza, speedy chinese, speedy cinnamon rolls, etc.

What's healthy about this roster of shops in Westford, MA?:

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2CEV