The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has triggered a $200 million investment in truck parking expansion across 12 states. Delivered as part of the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects (INFRA) program, the 14 projects will secure public parking for truckers along the nation’s critical freight corridors.
The following represent a selection of projects receiving the largest amounts through the INFRA program.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) received $27.7 million – the most sizable allocation in this funding round – to advance the Fergus Falls Vicinity Rest Area project. Otter Tail County will build a Class I Safety Rest Area near the City of Fergus Falls.
The site will add approximately 63 new parking spaces for commercial motor vehicles. Another 60 parking spaces will be built for passenger vehicles. The completed project will resolve a 97.5-mile parking gap along Interstate 94, providing winter refuge shelter for truckers. The facility will serve traffic in both directions and will include in-ground magnetometers, gate sensors and camera detection linked to regional 511 systems.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) will spend $24.5 million to modernize and improve six public rest areas along Interstate 80. The completed project will add roughly 150 truck parking spaces for commercial motor vehicles for five municipalities – Mitchellville, Wilton, Victor, Minden and Underwood.
As part of the project, the department will increase parking capacity, update site layouts and integrate infrastructure and amenity upgrades. Plans include utilizing durable materials to enhance resilience and lower maintenance costs. Iowa DOT also plans to integrate camera-based, real-time parking monitoring solutions to better support service and meet demand.
The Greater Nashville Regional Council will use nearly $24 million to complete the Tennessee Interstate 40/Interstate 24 Freight Corridor Truck Parking Expansion Network project. The council will expand commercial motor vehicle parking options along both I-40 and I-24 corridors, servicing Rutherford, Wilson and Knox counties.
The new parking areas will be located at five Pilot Travel Centers. Accessible around-the-clock and free of charge, the new locations will accommodate around 500 trucks. The finished product will help address three national freight bottlenecks, providing truckers with rest and respite by reducing roadside ramp parking. The project will incorporate camera-based, real-time occupancy detection linked to navigation apps and automated CCTV theft analytics.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has been selected for a $23 million investment in the Interstate 49 Truck Parking Safety Rest Area project. Plans include building a new safety rest area and truck parking facility along I-49 in Crawford County.
Once completed, the facility will provide 137 new truck parking spaces and another 49 spaces for passenger vehicles. Supplementary work will consist of building north- and southbound access ramps, internal one-way circulation roadways, stormwater detention ponds, site utilities and lighting.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will receive $15 million to expand truck parking access at two Interstate 41 safety rest areas. Located in Dodge County, the project will add around 106 new commercial motor vehicle parking spots alongside an oversize/overweight staging area.
The project vision calls for adding lighting to the parking area and entrance/exit ramps, modernizing ramp geometry to fix a dangerous defect, making all facilities ADA compliant and installing family-friendly amenities. Additional work will consist of adding CCTV, reconstructing failing pavement, replacing outdated comfort buildings with accessible facilities and building separate maintenance garages.
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