Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
The IDOT has the responsibility to regulate the placement and
operation of vending machines in safety rest areas constructed or located on
rights-of-way of non-toll fully access controlled State highways (Section
9-113.1(b) of the Act).
a) The IDOT
shall allow for the installation of vending facilities through contracts
between the IDORS and the IDOT. All such contracts shall be in writing and
shall ensure retention by the IDOT of full responsibility for and control over
all activities within the rest area. At a minimum, the contract with IDORS
shall provide:
1) The IDORS shall assign
licensed blind vendors to operate vending machines in all safety rest areas
constructed or located on rights-of-way of non-toll fully access controlled
State highways (Section 9-113.1(b) of the Act).
2) If, after notification to all licensed
blind vendors of the availability of a particular site, none is interested in
operating that site, the IDORS may contract for the operation of that site by a
private contractor. Any income, after deduction for cost of items, labor and a
negotiated percentage of profit, shall accrue to the IDORS for the exclusive
benefit of the vending facilities for the blind program or other programs of
rehabilitation and training for the blind administered by the IDORS (Section
9-113.1(b) of the Act).
3) The
IDORS shall, every three (3) years, notify licensed blind vendors of the
availability of such contractually operated sites and make them available to
interested blind vendors (Section 9-113.1(b) of the Act).
4) The IDORS shall submit an annual report to
the IDOT detailing gross vending sales, profits, number of persons involved in
all aspects of servicing and operating the approved vending machines.
5) To the extent that federal funds are
involved, all written contracts between the IDORS and any Vendor or Private
Contractor shall include nondiscrimination provisions in accordance with the
State assurance with regard to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000 d
-- 2000d-5), Landscape and Roadside Development (
23 CFR
752.8(c)(6)) , and the
Rehabilitation Act of 1978 (
29 U.S.C.
794) .
6) The IDOT shall not require the vending
machine operators to perform any services other than those related to servicing
and operating the approved vending machines (Section 9-113.1(c) of the
Act).
7) The IDOT shall determine
the location, type, and appearance of vending machine facilities to be located
in rest areas. The contract with IDORS shall provide:
A) The IDORS shall locate and install vending
equipment and appurtenances only in vending machine facilities.
B) The IDORS shall provide money changers
which are in good working order at each vending facility for use by rest area
patrons.
8) The IDOT
shall provide for the installation and maintenance of water lines and
electrical connections to the vending facilities.
9) Vending items to be dispensed shall be
limited to hot and cold nonalcoholic beverages, candy, gum, snacks, cigarettes,
sandwiches, soups, and sundry items. Sundry items include non-food items that
can be dispensed by machines, such as newspapers, fingernail clippers, pencils
and tissues. No petroleum products or vehicle replacement parts shall be
dispensed by any means at safety rest areas (
23 CFR 752.5(b)
(1987)) . No later amendments or editions are
incorporated. All beverages shall be dispensed in cans except for hot coffee,
tea, chocolate, soups, milk, and fruit juices. No glass containers shall be
dispensed. Newspapers shall be dispensed in separate facilities
(newsracks).
10) The IDOT shall
provide advance highway signing, to be located on existing rest area
informational signs, in conformance with the IDOT's Illinois Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (92 Ill. Adm. Code 546). The IDOT shall provide signs
at shelters identifying the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services as
the agency providing vending machines.
11) All Vendors or Private Contractors
selected by the IDORS for the operation of vending facilities at safety rest
areas pursuant to the provisions of Section 9-113.1 of the Act shall conform
with the requirements specified in this Section, and IDORS will include with
its agreement with the Vendor or Private Contractors the following:
A) The Vendor or Private Contractor shall pay
for all metered utilities used for vending facilities located at rest areas
under the provisions of Section 9-113.1 of the Act.
B) The Vendor or Private Contractor shall be
responsible for the operation, maintenance, and security of vending machines
located at rest areas.
C) The
Vendor or Private Contractor shall service vending facilities to ensure, except
for conditions resulting from acts of God such as tornadoes, flooding,
earthquakes, etc., that those services are available to rest area patrons 24
hours per day, every day, all year.
D) The Vendor or Private Contractor shall
comply with all laws and regulations regarding licensing by public health
departments and other agencies responsible for the regulation of the vending
business as explained by the Department of Rehabilitation Services at 89 Ill.
Adm. Code 650.1000 (Business Practices).
E) The Vendor or Private Contractor shall
provide an effective method for the return of lost monies to patrons through
one of the following procedures:
i) Refunds
made directly to the customer by the Vendor or the Vendor's employee.
ii) Refunds made through the use of refund
request cards which can be mailed by the customer to an address specified by
IDORS. The cards will identify the vending machine that did not operate
properly, the date, time, and type of problem. IDORS will determine whether the
refund request is valid and will handle the refund.
F) The Vendor or Private Contractor shall
provide the IDOT with the name and telephone number of the person who should be
contacted for response when problems with the vending operations arise during
time periods when no Vendor or Private Contractor personnel are present at a
rest area.
G) The Vendor or Private
Contractor shall assume all responsibility for liability resulting from the
operation and maintenance of vending machines.
H) The Vendor or Private Contractor shall
provide that personnel assigned to service vending machines wear work uniforms
which have been approved by both IDOT and IDORS as explained by the Department
of Rehabilitation Services at 89 Ill. Adm. Code 650.1000 (Business Practices)
at the rest area sites.
I) Whenever
complaints having to do with the quality of service or goods, the activities of
Vendor or Private Contractor employees, or return of lost monies, are made to
IDOT or IDORS from vending customers at a vending site and the compliants
exceed one per day, the Vendor or Private Contractor shall make improvements in
vending operations to reduce complaints to below the occurrence of one per
day.
b) The
IDOT shall, in cooperation with IDORS, provide for the design, construction,
and maintenance of vending machine facilities with full consideration and
accommodation for the handicapped (
23 CFR 752.5(a)
(1987)) in accordance with the rules of the
Capital Development Board at 71 Ill. Adm. Code 400 (Illinois Accessibility
Code). No later amendments or editions are incorporated.