Updated Freight Plan Guidance Formalizes Truck Parking Requirements
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued federal guidance formalizing truck parking as a required element within state multimodal freight plans. For years, freight plan guidance encouraged states to evaluate truck parking availability. New guidance that goes into effect February 24 requires states to conduct a comprehensive assessment of truck parking or lose National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) funds. “Each state that receives funding through the NHFP is required to have a State Freight Plan that provides a comprehensive plan for the immediate and long-range planning activities and investments of the state with respect to freight,” the new guidelines assert.
NATSO has long worked closely with U.S. DOT, state transportation departments and served on state Freight Advisory Committees to ensure that NATSO members’ perspective on truck parking capacity is represented. Freight Advisory Committees generally are tasked with evaluating truck parking capacity on specific corridors and making recommendations to the state on how best to increase capacity in designated areas. NATSO will continue to engage in these initiatives. At the federal level, the Federal Highway Administration is Congressionally mandated to conduct a national survey of truck parking capacity as required under the Jason’s Law provision of the 2012 highway authorization.
Under the new guidance, the truck parking assessment must include the state’s ability, together with the private sector, “to provide adequate parking facilities and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation.” The new guidance also notes that, while the establishment of a state freight advisory committee remains voluntary, if a state chooses to create such a committee it must consult with that committee while developing or updating its freight plan.
Each state that receives funding must assess: “the capacity of the state, together with the private sector, to provide adequate parking facilities and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation; the volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in the state; and whether there exist any areas within the state “with a shortage of adequate commercial motor vehicle parking facilities,” including an analysis (economic or otherwise) of the underlying causes of such a shortage.”
NATSO continues to evaluate the 59-page guidance and will update members on this issue.
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