AASHTO Journal - Truck Parking Info Available Via Arizona DOT 511 Website

Truck drivers looking for places to rest can now find the total number of truck parking spaces at any of Arizona’s rest areas on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s 511 traveler information 511 website.

[Above photo by the Arizona DOT.]

This new az511.gov feature allows commercial vehicle drivers to see how many total spaces are available each rest area on their routes. Currently there are 430 total truck parking spaces at the state’s 27 rest area facilities and the Arizona DOT also temporarily reopened two long-shuttered northern Arizona rest areas – parks on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff and Christensen on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff – to provide 44 additional parking spaces during the current COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, the agency said projects underway at two I-40 rest areas – Haviland and Meteor Crater – to expand truck parking spaces by 38 at Haviland and 60 at Meteor Crater. The project at Haviland was deemed an emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the expansion at Meteor Crater is part of an existing project to renovate the rest area. Both of those truck parking expansion projects are scheduled to wrap up this summer, the Arizona DOT noted.

The truck parking location system works by clicking on the “Map Legend” box on the right-hand side of the 511 website screen; checking the box next to “Rest Areas” will display all of the state’s rest areas on the website’s map, followed by clicking on a rest area location to then show rest area details – including the total number of truck spaces, the agency said.

“Providing opportunities for long-haul truckers to rest is important in keeping commerce flowing in Arizona,” noted John Halikowski, the Arizona DOT’s director, in a statement. “During this unprecedented time, truckers have been key to keeping grocery stores stocked and medical facilities supplied. Facilitating these safe locations for rest is key to our mission.”

He added that during fiscal year 2019, nearly 7.5 million commercial trucks entered Arizona.

The agency is also involved in a four-state effort to expand truck parking availability. In April 2019, Arizona and the other three I-10 Corridor Coalition member states – California, New Mexico and Texas – received a federal grant to fund development of a program that will alert commercial truck drivers to available truck parking at Interstate 10 rest areas.