The Parking Zone – August/September 2024
As the federal government makes small dents in the nationwide truck parking crisis, state and local governments continue to either help solve the issue or exacerbate it.
In June, a House subcommittee approved the 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, which included $200 million for truck parking projects. What is considered a “truck parking project” was not clear as of press time in early July.
Regardless of how that money can be spent, it is still up to local and state governments to address truck parking and tap into that funding. Below is a look at what some cities and states are doing about their parking situation.
Georgia town approves truck parking facility
The Conyers, Ga., city council gave the green light to a truck parking facility earlier this year, according to The Rockdale Citizen. However, some do not expect the facility to stop illegal parking.
The facility will include 49 truck parking spaces – for a fee. In addition, the facility was granted approval under the condition to prohibit sleeping in trucks. The lone dissenter on the council noted there are plenty of parking areas along Interstate 20. Furthermore, truckers have no incentive to stop parking illegally if the available parking costs money. For the most part, the facility is designed for local truckers who cannot park their truck at home.
Alabama adding a few more truck parking spots
The Alabama Department of Transportation is updating the rest area off Interstate 65 southbound near Greenville. In addition to a brand new building, the project also will add five more truck parking spots to the rest area. Plans to upgrade the northbound rest area are still being finalized as ALDOT secures funding.
Truck parking facility coming to Broward County, Fla.
Just a little farther south in Florida, a company called Industrial Outdoor Ventures started construction of a new warehouse and storage facility.
Located south of Interstate 595 between the Florida Turnpike and state Route 7, the site includes a 184,957-square-foot distribution warehouse, a 42,000-square-foot service building, 115 truck parking spaces and nearly 13 acres of outdoor storage or trailer parking, according to the South Florida Business Journal. Like the Conyers facility, this facility will likely be for reserved, paid parking.
Parking company pounces on new city ordinance
In the June issue of Land Line, a story featured a lawsuit file by truckers who live in The Acreage, Fla., challenging an ordinance banning residential truck parking. It didn’t take long for the private sector to seize the opportunity.
According to CBS12 News, Discount Truck Parking is planning on building a facility just a few miles south of The Acreage. Plans call for 200 truck parking spaces. Going from free parking at home to paid parking 12 miles away from home isn’t the solution local truckers are looking for, but it may be the only one they get.
Indiana adds several more parking spots
Meanwhile in Indiana, the state Department of Transportation is updating the two rest areas along Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County.
Truck parking at the southbound rest area will increase by 31 spaces. The northbound rest area will include 38 additional parking spaces. According to The Republic, the rest areas are being converted into truck-parking-only facilities. The southbound rest area averages 100 trucks daily between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Nevada includes truck parking in larger project
The Nevada Department of Transportation has plans to widen Interstate 80 just east of Sparks. Currently at four lanes, the project proposes a total of six lanes. In addition to widening the interstate, the project also calls for updating the interchanges. That includes adding between 25 and 50 truck parking spaces. The widening and additional parking comes as NDOT expects significant increases in traffic, including commercial vehicles, in the future.
Iowa plans modest increase in truck parking
Iowa’s Department of Transportation is also including truck parking in some of its plans.
According the 2025-29 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program that was finalized in June, the state’s Highway Program will receive a few billion dollars over the next five years. Included in the program is the addition of 50 truck parking spots. That’s not a lot. Fortunately, Iowa is not one of the states with a severe parking shortage.
Staten Island strongly enforcing truck parking ban
The New York Police Department is not screwing around when it comes to truck parking in Staten Island.
In April, the NYPD conducted an enforcement blitz that led to boots on seven trucks and to three summonses. Two months later, the NYPD towed 11 commercial vehicles and issued 11 summonses.
Truck parking on residential streets in New York City is illegal from 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. In 2022, Mayor Eric Adams directed the NYPD to conduct Operation Heavy Duty, which targets illegal truck parking.
Texas town subdivision files lawsuit to stop truck stop
RaceTrac already has begun construction of a new truck stop in Lufkin, Texas, but the neighboring subdivision is trying to stop it.
According to KTRE, attorneys representing Crown Colony have filed a lawsuit and temporary restraining order against RaceTrac. The lawsuit claims the truck stop does not comply with deed restrictions and ignores local, state and federal laws. RaceTrac was granted approval to build the truck stop by the city.
As of early July, the fate of the RaceTrac location in Lufkin is up in the air. If it is able to clear legal hurdles, the truck stop will include an 8,000-square-foot facility and “multiple parking stalls” for trucks. LL