Minnesota Statutes Transportation (Ch. 160-174A) § 160.272. Safety rest area and travel information center leases

Subdivision 1. Lease agreements. (a) Except as provided in subdivision 3, and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner may enter into lease agreements through negotiations with public or not-for-profit entities or through best value, as defined in section 16C.02, subdivision 4, with private entities relating to the use of safety rest areas and travel information centers. For purposes of this section, “private entity” means a chamber of commerce, a tourist and visitors bureau, or other organization that exists to promote tourism and economic development.

(b) A lease under this subdivision may:

(c) A lease agreement for a safety rest area is subject to section 160.273 regarding vending at safety rest areas.

(d) A lease agreement must include terms that promote and encourage the employment of needy elderly persons according to section 160.282.

(e) The commissioner may publicly acknowledge the lessee and may erect signs adjacent to the main travel lanes of a highway acknowledging the lessee. Acknowledgment on the main line may consist of placement of up to one sign for each direction of traffic served. The placement of signs shall only be allowed (1) as approved through the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices process for experimentation, (2) in accordance with federal standards and policies, and (3) so that no sign exceeds 100 square feet. No more than three acknowledgment signs or displays may be placed at any one rest area, in addition to the main-line signs.