Kentucky is part of an eight-state consortium awarded a $25 million federal grant to address critical issues associated with truck parking in the Midwest.
The federal grant is from the program known as TIGER – Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery. The eight states are members of the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials.
Collectively, they intend to develop a multistate Truck Parking Information and Management System. Other MAASTO states that will receive funding include Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Kansas was the lead applicant among the states.
“Safety issues arise when trucks parked along key freight corridors overflow onto the shoulders of freeway ramps, rest area ramps and adjacent roads,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in making the announcement. “Often there may be adequate parking elsewhere along the route, but no real-time information available to let truckers know where that might be.”
The TPIMS will disseminate parking information through a variety of means including electronic message signs, traveler information websites and smartphone applications. In Kentucky, the system will include information about parking along Interstates 64, 65, 71 and 75.
The eight states sharing the grant will contribute a 10 percent match of the deployment costs in their respective states. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will contribute approximately $300,000.
From Office of the Governor