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A common criticism is that these new service areas are too small. The Thruway Authority has told the public that not all of the rest stops will be the same size. The first three to open as part of a $450 million project — Chittenango, Indian Castle and Junius Ponds — are among the smallest service areas to be reconstructed.Ìý

On its website, the Thruway Authority says that Empire State Thruway Partners, which was awarded a 33-year contract to rebuild and operate the service areas, "planned different levels of service for each service area location based on sales history and traffic data over the last 10 years, as well as current services offered to the traveling public and services they'd like to see in the future." 

The Thruway Authority has assigned "levels" to the 27 service areas. The levels indicate the size of the rest stop and how many "food concepts," or restaurants, will be on site. All service areas have convenience stores and restrooms.Ìý

Level 1 

This is the smallest of the six levels and covers two service areas — DeWitt (Interstate 90 eastbound near Syracuse) and Schuyler (I-90 westbound between exits 30 and 31).Ìý

The level 1 rest stops will be 3,896 square feet with one restaurant and a convenience store. Once rebuilt, DeWitt will have a Starbucks and Schuyler will have a Dunkin Donuts.Ìý

Level 2

Nearly one-third of the rest stops are in this classification, including the first three that reopened this year. The other level 2 service areas are Guilderland (I-90 east between exits 25 and 24), Mohawk (I-90 east between exits 27 and 26), Port Byron (I-90 east between exits 41 and 40), Scottsville (I-90 east between exits 47 and 46) and Seneca (I-90 west between exits 44 and 45).Ìý

A level 2 service area is 5,742 square feet and has two restaurants along with a convenience store. For example, Junius Ponds Service Area has Shake Shack and Starbucks.Ìý

Level 2A

The difference between level 2 and 2A is significant — a level 2A service area is more than twice the size of a level 2 rest stop. The 2A service areas will cover 14,654 square feet.Ìý

Five service areas are considered level 2A rest stops: Iroquois (I-90 west between exits 29 and 29A), Oneida (I-90 east between exits 33 and 32), Ontario (I-90 west between exits 46 and 47), Warners (I-90 west between exits 39 and 40) and Malden (I-87 north between exits 20 and 21).Ìý

The added space allows the level 2A service areas to have three restaurants with a convenience store. Ontario Service Area, which will be rebuilt in the second phase of the project, will have Burger King, Panera Bread and Starbucks.Ìý

Level 2B 

A level 2B service area is the same size as a 2A (14,654 square feet) but will have amenities for truck drivers. When the Thruway Authority detailed the $450 million project in 2021, those amenities included fitness centers, laundry facilities and showers.Ìý

The three level 2B service areas are Clarence (I-90 west between exits 48A and 49), Pattersonville (I-90 west between exits 26 and 27) and Ulster (I-87 south between exits 20 and 19).Ìý

These rest stops will have three restaurants and a convenience store.Ìý

Level 3

The seven rest stops at this level will be among the largest on the Thruway. The service areas will be 20,145 square feet and feature six to eight restaurants with convenience stores.Ìý

The level 3 rest stops are Angola (I-90 east and west between exits 57A and 58), Clifton Springs (I-90 east between exits 42 and 43), Modena (I-87 south between exits 18 and 17), New Baltimore (I-87 north between exits 21B and 21A), Plattekill (I-87 north between exits 17 and 18), Ramapo (I-87 south between exits 16 and 15A) and Sloatsburg (I-87 north between exits 15A and 16).Ìý

The Thruway Authority has already announced four of the restaurants at Clifton Springs, which is scheduled to open in early 2023. The service area will have Auntie Anne's, Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack and Starbucks.Ìý

Level 3B

A level 3B service area will have the same number of restaurants (six to eight) as a level 3 and cover the same square footage (20,145). The difference, though, is that it will have amenities for truckers — fitness centers, laundry services and showers.Ìý

The only level 3B service area is Pembroke (I-90 east between exits 48A and 48), which is under construction and scheduled to reopen in early 2023. The restaurants planned for the rest stop include Burger King, Dunkin Donuts and Panera Bread.Ìý

Will size matter? 

A majority of the rest stops along I-90 (10 of 19) are either level 1 or 2 facilities, including the first three that reopened. But that same stretch of the Thruway will also have some of the largest service areas in the state.Ìý

The Thruway Authority thinks the complaints about the size of the new rest stops will subside once the construction phases are completed and all service areas are open. There has been increased foot traffic at the new rest stops, in part, because other service areas are closed.Ìý

Time will tell if the authority's prediction is correct.Ìý