The Department of Transportation contracts with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) to clean and maintain rest areas, waysides, historical markers, park-and-ride lots, and other roadside sites in many counties across the state. CRPs provide the equipment and supplies necessary to maintain the sites. In addition, CRP's train employees and supervise individuals with disabilities on the custodial and landscape maintenance crews. Rehabilitation for Wisconsin (RFW) works with the Department of Transportation and each CRP to ensure that quality services are provided at each site. The CRPs are responsible for providing a variety of services including the following:
Cleaning and Maintenance:
CRP's provide numerous services to these roadside sites including cleaning the buildings, shoveling snow from the walks, mowing the grounds, and tending the flower beds. They also perform minor repair and painting projects as necessary. Overall, they keep the facilities in tip-top shape! Crew members also frequently assist travelers in distress.
Recycling:
Most sites have recycling bins for common recyclable materials such as aluminum, plastic, tin, glass, and newspapers. Crews sort through the materials and take them to the local recycling facilities, thereby reducing the amount of waste that would normally go to landfills.
Wisconsin's rest area recycling program is featured on the Environmental Protection Agency's Recycle on the Go Web site. The Recycle on the Go Web site provides information that government agencies and businesses can use to start a recycling program in a public place, such as parks, stadiums, transportation hubs (including rest areas), and shopping centers. Because of its success, the EPA chose to highlight Wisconsin's rest area recycling program, which uses Rehabilitation For Wisconsin (RFW), a private nonprofit organization, to manage the program. RFW oversees the local Community Rehabilitation Programs, which provide the day-to-day maintenance at each rest area and some waysides. Wisconsin's rest area recycling program was among the first in the nation, starting in 1992.
To view the EPA Publications go to Recycling Program and EPA Brochure
Literature Distribution at Rest Areas:
CRPs work cooperatively with RFW in acquiring materials for the literature racks at the rest areas to provide visitors with safety brochures, maps, and local tourism attraction information. For information on placing materials from your community in the rest area literature racks contact Susan Davis from RFW Inc. at 608-244-5310 or email sdavis@rfw.org.
For more information about the other RAM Program participants, visit the following links:
