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18h ago

MassDOT to Rebid 18 Highway Service Plazas After Applegreen Exit

Officials say a clean-slate competition will seek stronger value and broader interest, with short-term extensions to prevent service gaps.

Jonathan Gulliver, Highway Administrator at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, attends a board of directors meeting, Wedesday, in Boston. MassDOT was scheduled to make an announcement about the service plazas. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

Overview

  • MassDOT announced the restart at a board meeting, choosing a new procurement over handing the lease to losing finalist Global Partners.
  • Day-to-day oversight shifts to the Highway Division, and the agency will negotiate extensions with current operators to avoid disruptions as most leases expire Dec. 31.
  • The rebid will run through MassDOT’s Complex Projects Office, with market sounding and outreach to previous bidders to increase competition.
  • Applegreen withdrew from lease negotiations on Sept. 23 after being selected in June, citing unresolved issues that included ongoing litigation.
  • Global Partners’ lawsuit remains pending in Suffolk Superior Court, and prior bids highlighted tradeoffs between Global’s projected payments of up to $1.5 billion over 35 years and Applegreen’s roughly $750 million in capital investment.