Turnpike to point drivers to Citgo rivals

[meegbear]

Motorists who find it politically offensive that Citgo is the only brand of fuel available at service plazas on Florida's Turnpike will be getting some roadside assistance on other options.

In the next couple of months, signs will go up at turnpike exits listing gas stations just off the highway. Drivers will not have to pay an additional toll if they get off to fill up.

"Providing drivers with more information so they can best plan their trip and purchase fuel at the location of their choice is a good thing," state Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, said Wednesday.

Hasner wanted to boot Citgo off the tollway after Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called President Bush "the devil" in a September speech at the United Nations. The move would have been a wake-up call that the United States cannot be dependent on hostile countries for its energy future, he said. But state officials said there was no legal grounds to do so.

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[jilln]

1. Why not just rename it.... Freedom Gas?

[Kolesar]

2. send them to Exxon, an all american atmosphere destroying company

Or, more correctly, funding climate change misinformation.

[Ian David]

3. Hess is a good alternative to Citgo

http://www.buyblue.org/node/197

[marmar]

4. Freedom Fries Redux.....

Repugs might hate taxes, but they certainly know how to waste tax money. :argh:

[MADem]

5. How very fucking childish. But then, what do we expect? Sheesh!!!

Astounding that they are making policy based on POLITICAL offense taken by a specific group of people. Of course, they're gonna be revamping those stations in a bit, which would likely require that some of them go 'offline' for a time, so this could be just a bit of PANDERING crafted out of a course they were gonna take anyway:

The 148-mile "ticket system" between the Lantana and Three Lakes toll plazas will be the first section of the main line to get the logo signs. Although there won't be an extra charge, drivers will still have to pay when they exit, get a new ticket when they reenter and pay again when they get off a second time, turnpike spokesman Chad Huff said.

How many people will actually go through the inconvenience to make a political statement? Neither Hasner nor state officials would hazard a guess.

"This is another alternative that we're providing to the people," Huff said.

In a letter to the legislator, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Denver Stutler said his agency also is expediting the process of soliciting proposals to manage the gas stations when the current contract expires. The state will have greater control over sales and marketing at the service plazas under the new agreement, Stutler wrote.

Another reason for the early start is that major renovations are planned at the service plazas in the next two to three years, Huff said...

[PVnRT]

6. Don't interstates have this already?

Here in the midwest, at least, just about every exit will list what gas stations and restaurants and hotels are at the exit in question.

[meegbear]

9. These are plazas erected on the side of the highway itself ...

a combination rest stop/gas station/convenience store. They're so you don't have to turn off.

[PVnRT]

10. Ah, like oases, then

That makes more sense, although I have a feeling that the gas stations that get to build in places like that are the ones who bribe the highest anyway...

[democraticinsurgent]

7. I Support Citgo n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Honestly, how many ppl will get off the highway for that reason?

[thingfisher]

11. Has anyone caught the commercial

for Citgo, showing Joe Kennedy delivering Citgo fuel oil to poor shivering American families? I caught it once. Sort of surprised me. I don't see any other oil companies donating heating oil.
Oh yeah, that Chavez guy is just trying to stir up trouble with his phoney charity!

[lib2DaBone]

12. I do Citgo.....

Great post. I love Citgo and go out of my way to use it. When 7-11 quit selling Citgo in favor of "Freedom Gas" , I quit buying 7-11's stale coffee along with their losing scratch-off Florida Lotto Tickets. You know, those tickets that cost you a hundred dollars in order to win $1? Cannot tell you how much money I've saved. (lol) Read an article, says the Florida Turnpike has been payed for 20 times over, yet they keep raising the toll. Its one of the largest cash-cows in the State. However, vaguely remember some story on the snooze cast about the Politicians selling the Turnpike to some foreign company? Cannt remember.. could be wrong. Happy motoring in the Sunshine State... dont foget to stop for some Prep-H and a slurpee......