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Frank Hoare, acting executive director of the Thruway Authority, told the agency's board Monday that 13 service areas have been rebuilt and are open to the public. Three more will reopen before the summer travel season.

Two rest stops in central New York are scheduled to reopen in the coming months. Port Byron Service Area along Interstate 90 east in Cayuga County is projected to open in the first quarter. Warners Service Area, a rest stop along I-90 west in Onondaga County, should also reopen this quarter.

Guilderland Service Area on I-90 east near Albany is projected to reopen in the second quarter.

That will leave 11 rest stops, most of which are already closed for construction. Four service areas — Malden, Ontario, Pattersonville and Sloatsburg — will be renovated.

"We are holding steady and we are looking to and hoping for a fall 2025 end date for all 27," Hoare said. 

Empire State Thruway Partners, an entity created by Applegreen, was awarded the contract to operate the service areas and is leading the $450 million privately funded project.

The project began in July 2021 when the Thruway closed 10 rest stops for reconstruction. There were delays due to COVID-19 and supply chain issues, but the first group of new rest stops opened in the latter half of 2022.

The early reviews of the first rest stops were mixed, with complaints about the smaller restrooms and lack of space. But several of the rest stops that followed were larger, including Clifton Springs and Pembroke service areas. 

With Applegreen's presence and the hefty investment, the Thruway Authority hopes to reinvigorate the service areas. 

The rest stops have new restaurant options, such as Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack. Other amenities are provided, from dog walking areas and private nursing spaces to services for truck drivers. 

One amenity Hoare has been asked a lot about is electric vehicle chargers. There are 59 chargers at rest stops along the Thruway, he said. When three more rest stops open before the summer, the number of chargers will increase to 97. 

The Thruway Authority plans to add 320 electric vehicle chargers over the next 10 years. Hoare said the agency will pursue federal grants to fund the installation of the chargers.