Concept and classification of 1. expressway service area

Expressway service area refers to the service facilities set up along the expressway to meet the various needs of drivers and passengers in long-distance driving, including gas stations, parking lots, toilets, restaurants, shops, information kiosks, lounges, etc. Expressway service area is an important part of expressway operation and management, which plays an important role in ensuring the safety and smoothness of expressways, improving the comfort of drivers and passengers, and promoting the economic and social development of the areas along the route.

According to the General Code for Design of Expressway Traffic Engineering and Facilities along the Line (JTG/T B02-01-2018), my country's expressway service areas can be divided into three categories according to their function and scale:

（11) Integrated service area. Comprehensive service area refers to the service area along the expressway that provides comprehensive services such as refueling, parking, toilets, catering, shops, information kiosks, etc. It is generally set up in areas with large traffic volume or far away from cities and towns, and the average spacing should not be greater50km。

（21) Simple service area. Simple service area refers to the service area along the expressway that only provides basic services such as parking and toilets. It is generally set up in areas with small traffic volume or close to cities and towns, and the average spacing should not be greater25km。

（31) Special service area. Characteristic service area refers to the service area along the expressway, which provides services with local characteristics according to the characteristics of local natural scenery, cultural landscape and characteristic industries. It is generally set up in areas with tourism value or economic potential, and the average spacing is not limited.

Current Situation of 2. Expressway Service Area Industry

（1) continues to grow in number. Our country since1988Since the construction of the first batch of expressway service areas, with the continuous expansion of the expressway network, the number of expressway service areas has also continued to grow. According to data from the Champ Consulting Group, as2022At the end of the year, we had about4600Expressway service areas, of which the integrated type accounts for about65%, the simple type accounts for about25%, characteristic type accounts for about10%. expected2023By the end of the year, the number of expressway service areas in China will reach4800around.

（2) scale is expanding. With the continuous increase of car ownership and travel demand in China, as well as the continuous improvement of people's travel quality and experience, the scale of expressway service area in China is also expanding. According to data from the Champ Consulting Group,2022At the end of the year, the average area of China's highway service area is about.16.210,000 square meters, with different types of service areas varying in size, with the average area of the composite type being21.610,000 square meters, the average area of the simple type is9.610,000 square meters, with an average area18.2Ten thousand square meters. expected2023By the end of the year, the average area of highway service areas in China will reach17.210,000 square meters, of which the comprehensive type is about22.910,000 square meters, the simple type is about10.110,000 square meters, the characteristic type is about19.4Ten thousand square meters.

（3) function is constantly improved. With the continuous development of China's highway service area industry, the function of highway service area is also constantly improving. In addition to providing basic services such as refueling, parking, and toilets, the expressway service area has also added diversified services such as catering, shops, information kiosks, lounges, entertainment facilities, medical services, and charging piles to meet the needs of drivers and passengers. Various needs. According to data from the Champ Consulting Group, as2022At the end of the year, the average type of service provided by China's highway service area reached13species, where the integrated type is approximately16species, the simple type is about9species, the characteristic type is about14species. expected2023By the end of the year, the average type of service provided by China's highway service areas will reach14species, where the integrated type is approximately18species, the simple type is about10species, the characteristic type is about15species.

（4) Quality is constantly improving. With the continuous development of China's highway service area industry, the quality of highway service area is also constantly improving. From the perspective of hardware facilities, the architectural style of the expressway service area is more diversified, beautiful and generous, the layout of the parking lot is more reasonable, convenient and safe, and the toilet facilities are cleaner and more comfortable. From the perspective of software services, the quality of personnel in the expressway service area is improved, the service attitude is more enthusiastic and professional, and the service process is more standardized and efficient. According to data from the Champ Consulting Group, as2022At the end of the year, the average satisfaction of highway service areas in China reached85%, where the integrated type is approximately88%, the simple type is about81%, the characteristic type is about86%. expected2023By the end of the year, the average satisfaction of China's highway service area will reach86%, where the integrated type is approximately89%, the simple type is about82%, the characteristic type is about87%。

Development Trend of 3. Expressway Service Area Industry

（1) Intelligent development. With the continuous progress and application of information technology, intelligence has become an important development direction of the highway service area industry. Through the establishment of intelligent management and service platform, the real-time monitoring, analysis and optimization of expressway service area are realized, and the operation efficiency and management level are improved. Through the use of big data, cloud computing, Internet of things, artificial intelligence and other technical means, to achieve personalized identification and accurate push of drivers and passengers, improve service quality and user experience.

（2) Green development. With the continuous enhancement of the awareness of ecological environment protection and the deepening of the concept of green and low-carbon, greening has become an important development direction of the highway service area industry. Through the use of energy-saving and environmentally friendly building materials and design concepts, low-carbon construction and operation of expressway service areas are realized. Through the use of solar energy, wind energy and other renewable energy and garbage classification and recycling, the resource conservation and recycling of expressway service areas are realized.

（3) Diversified development. With the continuous diversification and differentiation of the needs of drivers and passengers, diversification has become an important development direction of the highway service area industry. Through the development of service projects with local characteristics and cultural connotations, the brand building and value promotion of expressway service areas are realized. Through the introduction of a variety of cooperation models and operating subjects, the integration of resources and benefit sharing of the highway service area are realized.

（4) international development. With the continuous promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative and the deepening of international exchanges and cooperation, internationalization has become an important development direction of the highway service area industry. Through reference to foreign advanced experience and mode, realize the international standardization and standardization of expressway service area. By strengthening cooperation and exchanges with relevant foreign institutions and enterprises, we can realize the international influence and competitiveness of expressway service areas.

Problems and Challenges in 4. Expressway Service Area Industry

（1) The planning and construction are unreasonable. At present, there are still some unreasonable phenomena in the planning and construction of expressway service areas in China, such as insufficient number of service areas, uneven distribution, too large or too small scale, repeated or missing functions, single or similar style, which leads to the imbalance of supply and demand, waste of resources, low efficiency and other problems in expressway service areas.

（21) Operation management is not standardized. At present, there are still some irregularities in the operation and management of expressway service areas in my country, such as uneven service quality, opaque price levels, frequent safety hazards, untimely handling of complaints, and insufficient information feedback, which have led to expressway service areas. The user satisfaction of the company has declined, credibility has been damaged, and risk has increased.

（3) Innovation ability is not strong. At present, there are still some weak phenomena in the innovation ability of expressway service area in China, such as low level of technology application, single service content, conservative market development and single cooperation mode, which leads to the problems of insufficient competitiveness, limited growth space and untapped development potential of expressway service area.

（4) The external environment is unstable. At present, there are still some unstable factors in the external environment of my country's expressway service area, such as frequent changes in policies and regulations, increasingly fierce market competition, increasingly changeable user needs, and occasional emergencies, which have led to the operation of expressway service areas. Problems such as increased costs, large income fluctuations, and difficult risk response.

Suggestions and Countermeasures of 5. Expressway Service Area Industry

In view of the above problems and challenges, this paper puts forward the following suggestions and countermeasures:

（1) Optimize planning and construction. According to the layout of the expressway network and traffic flow, scientifically determine the number, distribution, scale and type of expressway service areas to avoid the phenomenon of over-dense or over-sparse, too large or too small, too similar or too different. According to the regional characteristics and user needs, reasonably determine the function and style of the expressway service area to avoid duplication or lack, single or identical phenomenon.

（21) Standardize operation management. Establish and improve the quality standards and supervision mechanisms of expressway service areas, improve service quality and level, and protect user rights and safety. Establish and improve the price mechanism and publicity system of expressway service areas, reasonably determine the price level and structure, and increase price transparency and fairness. Establish and improve the complaint handling and information feedback mechanism of expressway service areas, solve user problems and demands in a timely manner, and improve user satisfaction and trust.

（3) Enhance innovation capability. Strengthen the technology research and development and application of expressway service areas, introduce advanced technologies such as intelligence and greening, and improve operational efficiency and management level. Enrich the service content and form of the expressway service area, develop distinctive and creative service items, and improve user experience and loyalty. Expand the market areas and partners of the expressway service area, explore a variety of cooperation models and operating entities, and improve resource utilization and benefit sharing rates.

（4) deal with the external environment. Pay close attention to the changes in policies and regulations in the expressway service area, adjust business strategies and planning plans in a timely manner, and comply with laws, regulations and industry norms. Pay close attention to the market competition situation of expressway service area, analyze its own advantages and disadvantages in time, and formulate reasonable competitive strategies and differentiation advantages. Pay close attention to the changes in user needs in the expressway service area, collect user feedback and suggestions in a timely manner, and formulate personalized service strategies and precise marketing strategies. Pay close attention to the occurrence of emergencies in the expressway service area, and formulate emergency plans and disposal plans in time to reduce losses and impacts.

6. Conclusion

In short, the expressway service area is an important part of my country's expressway operation management. It plays an important role in ensuring the safety and smoothness of expressways, improving the comfort of drivers and passengers, and promoting the economic and social development of the areas along the route. From the definition, classification, function, planning, construction and operation of expressway service area, this paper analyzes the current situation and development trend of expressway service area in China, points out the existing problems and challenges, and puts forward corresponding suggestions and countermeasures. It is hoped that this paper can provide some reference for the healthy development of China's highway service area industry.