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“This is really a safety issue. Because if we don’t have truck parking, people are sometimes overnighting in unsafe locations," Buttigieg said. (Rod Lamkey/Associated Press)

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A trio of states has received millions of dollars in federal funds to advance projects that will increase the amount of truck parking along several key freight corridors.

The U.S. Department of Transportation , including projects in Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin that will add parking to existing facilities along interstate highways. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said providing reliable parking for trucking industry workers promotes safety.

"This is something that we hear over and over again when I’m engaging with the trucking community,” Buttigieg said shortly before the funding announcement. “It’s important to note for the layperson who isn’t as familiar with these needs [that] this isn’t just a convenience issue, although that alone is compelling. This is really a safety issue. Because if we don’t have truck parking, people are sometimes overnighting in unsafe locations.

“Sometimes [drivers] wind up in areas [that] just aren’t really set up to accommodate truck drivers or truck parking,” Buttigieg noted.

The funds will be administered through the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects program, or INFRA, and the National Infrastructure Project Assistance, or “Mega,” grants programs.

In Nevada, a $275 million INFRA grant will assist with an I-80 widening project. The state’s DOT will use the funds to add 50 truck parking spaces in the Reno-Sparks region. The project will “improve travel time reliability along the corridor,” according to USDOT.

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“I’m proud to have worked across the aisle to secure more than $275 million in federal funding to widen I-80, which will help reduce traffic and support local economic growth,” said Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), chairwoman of the Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion Subcommittee. “This funding was made possible thanks to the landmark bipartisan infrastructure law that I helped write and pass.”

In Ohio, an INFRA grant of nearly $18 million will be used to repurpose rest areas as truck parking facilities. The projects along I-70 and I-80 will add 138 parking spaces.

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In Wisconsin, a $12.5 million grant will create 72 truck parking spaces along I-43. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), chairwoman of the Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing Subcommittee, said, “After decades of heavy use, the outdated and deteriorating infrastructure isn’t up to par. That’s why I fought to secure this investment, reconstructing an important resource for truckers, helping ensure that goods get to market on time, and keeping Wisconsin drivers safe on our roads.”

In a separate statement, Gov. Tony Evers (D) said the funding would assist trucking operations statewide, adding, “as the use of the I-43 corridor continues to grow, this is an investment in our state’s future.”

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, credited 2021’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the new round of infrastructure grants.

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“These grant projects will have lasting benefits on communities across the country,” Larsen said Oct. 21. “The bipartisan infrastructure law continues to build cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs.”

Federal lawmakers are finalizing fiscal 2025 appropriations legislation that proposes $200 million for expanding truck parking availability nationwide. The measure is atop Congress’ post-election agenda.

“This is something we’ve been working on very intentionally,” Buttigieg said of truck parking. “Many of our grants over recent years in locations from Florida to South Dakota have specifically funded truck parking. And that’s the case in these announcements, as well. We view that as an investment really in the core mission of our department, which is safety.”

Stakeholders, such as American Trucking Associations, continue to advocate for greater parking access along freight corridors.

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“The chronic lack of truck parking poses a danger to the public, impedes the efficiency of our supply chain and harms truckers’ wellbeing. We appreciate Secretary Buttigieg’s commitment to addressing this serious issue by supporting the decisions of Ohio, Wisconsin and Nevada to embed truck parking projects in their transportation plans,” .

“When drivers finish their shift, they deserve to know that they will be able to find a safe place to sleep that night,” Spear continued. “Congress can be a part of the solution by building on this investment and voting to pass the $200 million for truck parking included in this year’s appropriations bill.”

The American Transportation Research Institute this month said unreliable access to parking ranked second on its annual “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry” list, which is voted on by drivers and fleet executives.

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