Washington – Today, the American Trucking Associations welcomed five major new federal investments by the Department of Transportation that will add approximately 1,000 truck parking spaces and make it easier for drivers to locate parking along key freight corridors in Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.
“The severe shortage of truck parking continues to rank among drivers’ highest concerns, which is why we appreciate that Secretary Buttigieg and a growing number of states are making these projects a top priority,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “America’s highways are our shop floor. When drivers finish their shift, they deserve to know that they will be able to find a safe place to sleep that night. These significant investments in expanding parking capacity along some of America’s busiest freight corridors will help reduce supply chain bottlenecks, alleviate stress on truck drivers and make the roadways safer for all motorists.”
The funding stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and was allocated through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Program. Combined with previous awards to Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wyoming and Iowa, the announcement brings the total number of truck parking projects supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 11, encompassing roughly 2,000 additional spaces.
The new awards follow ATA’s effort to urge governors to request Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for truck parking projects in their states.
“Florida Trucking Association is proud to have partnered with FDOT on this funding request—I-4 is one of the busiest corridors for freight movement in the country, with far too few parking options,” said Florida Trucking Association President and CEO Alix Miller. “Our state leadership prioritizes the trucking industry and the safety of our drivers, who often have no other choice than to park illegally when they are tired or for their federally mandated rest time. This project will make all motorists safer on our roads and improve efficient movement of freight as we drive the economy forward.”
The INFRA funding was awarded as follows:
• $180,009,420 for 917 spaces at four locations on I-4 in central Florida.
• $92,883,609 for improvements to I-70 in Missouri, which will include new parking capacity.
• $40,798,046 for a project at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania, which will include the creation of a safe truck parking area as an alternative to the current practice of parking off-site in unauthorized locations nearby.
• $12,287,247 for a joint California, Oregon and Washington I-5 Truck Parking Information Management System that will provide real-time information.
• $8,000,000 to add 54 spaces on I-90 in Wisconsin as well as real-time information system technology.
In November 2023, ATA sent a letter calling on all 50 state governors to make room for truck parking in their infrastructure spending priorities. The letter spelled out the numerous new resources provided by the federal government, including new funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to improve and expand truck parking facilities.
The ATA also strongly supports the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act—introduced by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Representatives Mike Bost (R-Illinois) and Angie Craig (D-Minnesota)—which would create a $755 million federal grant program dedicated to truck parking expansion.