Wireless Internet access will no longer be available at Washington’s highway safety rest areas due to a lack of consistent users. Part of the problem was that there was no information posted in the rest areas about how to use the system, and many travelers gave up when they couldn’t make it work.
In 2006, more than two dozen of the state’s rest areas became wi-fi hotspots, enabling travelers to look up current road conditions, check e-mail and gather other travel information on their wireless devices.
The system was a partnership with Parsons Transportation Group and Road Connect Inc., with the state sharing a portion of the revenue generated by subscriptions. The system was paid for solely by Parsons and Road Connect. The lack of revenue generated from subscriptions prompted the two companies to discontinue the service effective Sept. 1.