Thursday, October 29, 2015

8 Midwest states receive federal grant to develop system to track truck parking







A $25 million federal grant to address critical truck parking issues in the Midwest has been awarded to a consortium of Kansas and seven other states.

The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant was awarded to the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) to develop the multi-state Truck Parking Information and Management System (TPIMS). Other MAASTO states that will receive funding include Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. 

The grant was announced today in Wichita by Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. Kansas was the lead applicant among the states.

Safety issues arise when trucks parked along key freight corridors overflow onto the shoulders of rest area ramps, freeway ramps and adjacent roads. Often there may be adequate parking elsewhere along the route, but no real-time information is available to let truckers know where that might  be. 

“I’m excited and grateful to accept this grant on behalf of Kansas and the other seven states whose goals are to improve the efficiency, economic competitiveness and safety of the national freight network,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary and former MAASTO president Mike King. “By working together, we can provide our freight customers the reliability of a seamless, regional system." 

The TPIMS will disseminate parking information on electronic message signs, traveler information websites and smart phone applications. In Kansas, the system will include information about parking along I-70 and I-135.


            The Kansas Department of Transportation expects to receive about $3.3 million in federal funds and will contribute approximately$486,000 in state funds for the work in Kansas.

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