The I-95 Corridor Coalition will be assisting its member states resolve truck parking issues through the development of a real-time information dissemination system to make the most efficient use of available public and private truck parking capacity. This will be achieved through a balanced and comprehensive approach, featuring deployment of a real-time information system, state investment in additional capacity, exploration of innovative ways of expanding capacity that recognize the changing dynamics of the freight industry, and projects addressing marketing, outreach, evaluation and financial sustainability aspects.
Truck parking is a multi-faceted problem. It is first and foremost a safety concern, as trucks park illegally and unsafely on highway shoulders and ramps. Truck parking shortfalls also highlight the capacity constraints at existing facilities, and the limited right-of-way that exists in the areas of the I-95 corridor with the highest demand for parking to accommodate new truck parking facilities. The lack of safe, convenient, and easy-to-find parking in the corridor forces truckers to make dangerous choices, with potentially deadly consequences.
The Truck Parking Availability System is designed to advise over-the-road truck drivers on the real-time availability of truck parking spaces. Because this effort is undertaken by the I-95 Corridor Coalition, rather than an individual state or agency, the system will not be limited by state boundaries or jurisdictional lines. The Truck Parking Availability System is composed of three major subsystems:
- Data Collection Subsystem – Collects raw vehicle occupancy data in designated truck parking areas.
- Data Integration Subsystem – Integrates and processes vehicle occupancy data collected from all instrumented truck parking areas to calculate parking availability by area.
- Data Dissemination/Traveler Information Subsystem – Disseminates real-time parking availability information to truck operators through a range of mechanisms and media.
In addition to the real-time information dissemination system, the truck parking improvement program will include select capacity expansion and augmentation projects. |