AASHTO Journal - Arizona DOT Adds Truck Parking to 511 Service

The Arizona Department of Transportation is adding real-time truck parking availability data along I-10 rest areas in the western and southeastern part of the state to the Arizona Traveler Information website, az511.gov.

[Above photo by Arizona DOT]

That information comes from the $2.8 million Truck Parking Availability System or TPAS the agency launched in January; a system that uses electronic highway signs to alert truckers to available rest area parking spaces.

Those rest areas, which feature monitoring systems that track available parking for commercial systems, now supply parking availability information not only to the TPAS electronic highway signs, but to az511.gov and third-party sources used by truck drivers as well.

Arizona DOT noted in a statement that its TPAS is part of a $13.7 million initiative spearheaded by the I-10 Corridor Coalition, through which Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas joint promote safer and more efficient travel for both people and freight. That funding includes a $6.85 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Many state departments of transportation are involved in a variety of information delivery projects not just for freight companies but for motorists as well.

For example, the Kansas Department of Transportation recently received the “Best ITS Service Award” from ITS Heartland for the agency’s KanDrive mobile traffic application.

Kansas DOT said that award highlights the “significant improvements” made to the app as part of the U.S. 83 Smart Corridor project – including “seamless integration” with popular platforms such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa, and Siri; making real-time traffic updates more accessible and convenient for drivers.

“The advancements to KanDrive…underscore our dedication to leveraging technology to deliver the most current and user-friendly travel information,” said Kansas DOT Secretary Calvin Reed in a statement. “Features like voice integration and public reporting truly empower Kansas travelers with valuable, easily accessible information, ultimately making their journeys safer and more efficient.”

Meanwhile, in February, the New York State Department of Transportation launched the “I-81 Connect” mobile application to deliver real-time updates and travel alerts about the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project outside Syracuse, NY; the largest infrastructure project to date overseen by the agency.

The I-81 Connect mobile app – powered by GoGov and available on iPhone and Android devices for free – is a “one-stop shop resource” that provides users 24/7 access to all aspects of the I-81 Viaduct Project and streamlines communication between the user and NYSDOT, the agency said.