AASHTO Journal - USDOT Issues $200M in Grants to Expand Truck Parking

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently issued $200 million in grants via its Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects or “INFRA” program to support 14 truck parking expansion projects in 12 states.

[Above photo by Arkansas DOT]

“These patriotic men and women work hard [as truck drivers] to ensure our store shelves are stocked, our gas stations are fueled, and our packages are delivered,” noted Sean Duffy, USDOT secretary, in a statement. “They shouldn’t have to spend over an hour looking for a safe place to rest at the end of the day. This nationwide investment will make America’s truckers safer, enhance our supply chains, and reduce freight costs.”

“Truck parking is one of the most persistent challenges faced by American truckers today and … we’re tackling it head on,” said Derek Barrs, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, who added that 40 percent of truckers spend over an hour a day searching for parking; posing a safety hazard for them and costing the nation’s economy billions in wasted time.

“This investment will deliver hundreds of new spots across the country, helping hardworking truck drivers get the rest they need and reducing dangerous roadside parking on some of America’s most important corridors,” he pointed out.

More than half of those 14 truck parking projects are under the purview of state departments of transportation:

The Arkansas Department of Transportation received $23 million to complete the final design and construction of a new safety rest area and truck parking facility along a future segment of I-49 in Crawford County, AR, between the Gun Club Road and Clear Creek Road interchanges. The facility will feature dedicated parking infrastructure accommodating approximately 137 trucks and 49 passenger vehicles. That project also includes construction of northbound and southbound access ramps, internal one-way circulation roadways, stormwater detention ponds, site utilities, and lighting.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation received $13.5 million to construct a truck parking facility with up to 260 truck parking spaces on I-91 in Enfield, CT, north of Hartford. The facility will include supporting infrastructure including bathrooms, vending areas, and associated utility, maintenance, custodial, and storage spaces.
The Georgia Department of Transportation received $13.4 million to add approximately 109 new truck parking spaces within Georgia DOT-owned right-of-way at two existing public truck parking facilities within Weigh Station 6 and Rest Area 22 on I-75 southbound. The project will incorporate upgraded lighting, enhanced vehicle circulation, and additional safety enhancements.
The Iowa Department of Transportation received $24.5 million to expand and modernize commercial motor vehicle parking at six public rest areas along I-80 in the cities of Mitchellville, Wilton, Victor, Minden, and Underwood.
The Illinois Department of Transportation received $12.6 million to reconstruct and expand the Green Creek Southbound and Post Oak Southbound rest areas on I-57, which includes the addition of new facilities, upgrading utilities and drainage, and adding approximately 38 truck parking spaces. In addition, the project will deploy Truck Parking Information Management System technologies including automated vehicle detection, electronic kiosks, and security equipment.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation received $27.7 million to design and construct a new Class I Safety Rest Area with approximately 63 commercial motor vehicle and 60 passenger vehicle parking spaces near Fergus Falls, MN. The facility will serve both directions of I-94 and will replace a nearby rest area that was closed due to recurring flooding.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation received $7.6 million to construct a new public commercial motor vehicle rest area on I-80 between Reference Posts 247 and 254 in Dawson County, Nebraska. Each direction will provide parking slots for roughly 60 trucks, 40 passenger vehicles, and four recreational vehicles, plus a new service building with restrooms, vending, and traveler amenities. The facility replaces truck parking capacity that will be lost when four aging rest areas at Cozad and Kearney close under Nebraska DOT’s I-80 modernization program. Truck parking capacity will increase by approximately 92 spaces with the construction of the Elm Creek rest area pair, the agency added.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation received $15 million to expand commercial motor vehicle parking by approximately 106 spaces between two safety rest areas along a rural area of I-41 in Dodge County, WI.

USDOT noted that, since April 2025, it has invested more than $300 million in truck parking grants, including $62 million issued in July to address truck parking shortages in Kentucky, Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Illinois as part of a larger issuance of $1.73 billion in grants via the agency’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development or BUILD program.

States are also making their own investments in truck parking expansion efforts as part of broader highway rest area improvement initiatives.

For example, the North Dakota Department of Transportation recently finished a $10 million overhaul of the Oriska Rest Area on I-94; a facility located roughly midway between the cities of Fargo and Jamestown, ND.

The agency said this project replaced the existing building and reconstructed the parking lot; adding 25 commercial truck parking spaces as well. The new facility also features four sheltered picnic tables, a courtyard, a walking path, a dog park, and an adult changing station.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Department of Transportation recently began building a new $35.2 million welcome center in Jackson County along I-10. The scope of work includes constructing a modernized, accessible highway rest area; making drainage and water system upgrades; and providing 62 truck parking spaces and five bus parking spaces. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in summer 2028, the agency said.

And in late May, the Missouri Department of Transportation unveiled newly renovated Boonville rest areas on I-70; upgraded facilities that feature fully rebuilt exteriors providing improved curb appeal; spacious air-conditioned common areas inside with benches and electrical outlets for charging devices; indoor vending machines and Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA-accessible family assist restrooms.