For more information, contact Carolyn Tobias: ctobias@bernco.gov.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is launching a new program to help truck drivers find convenient and safe parking at rest areas and weigh stations along the Interstate 5 corridor.
The program is called the Truck Parking Information Management System. TPIMS equips truck drivers with real-time and predictive information about parking spaces available up ahead. It helps them plan up to four hours in advance of where to park. This helps ensure that truck drivers can find safe parking and that existing truck parking spaces are used to their full capacity.
Truck drivers are electronically monitored to ensure they do not exceed their driving hours. They must start searching for truck parking long before they actually need it. They report often spending more than an hour looking for space. Nationwide, there is just one parking space for every 11 trucks. Seventy-five percent of Washington’s truck drivers report problems finding safe parking at least once every week.
In response, WSDOT teamed with the University of Washington Star Lab to provide first-of-its-kind predictive information to truck drivers on parking availability up to four hours down the road. In addition, two vendors – Drivewyze and ParkerTruck – provide information for drivers either through in-cab displays in their trucks or through mobile apps on their phones. Truck drivers can find more details on how to access TPIMS information by visiting either vendor’s website.
Funding for the program is provided by the Freight Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America, or INFRA grant program through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Read the full release here.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the completion of the Howard Frankland Bridge Replacement Project and the groundbreaking of the I-275 Express Expansion Moving Florida Forward Project. Together, these projects represent more than $1.3 billion in investments to reduce congestion, strengthen hurricane evacuation routes, and improve mobility for families and businesses across the Tampa Bay region.
The Howard Frankland Bridge replacement, the largest transportation project ever delivered in FDOT’s District 7, opened to traffic earlier this summer and as built has increased capacity by 50%. The new modernized bridge has been fortified to withstand hurricanes and ties directly into the recently completed Gateway Expressway and I-275 Express project.
The Governor also announced the groundbreaking of the I-275 expansion in Pinellas County. This project will widen the interstate, add new express lanes, and flow into the new Howard Frankland Bridge. Once complete, it is expected to reduce travel delays by up to 85% and generate more than $1.4 billion in regional economic value, while ensuring I-275 remains a vital hurricane evacuation corridor. Thanks to the investments included in Moving Florida Forward, the project will be delivered 15 years ahead of schedule.
“Governor DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward Initiative is transforming Tampa Bay’s transportation system and connecting communities,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “I’m proud of the work of our FDOT team who is making quick work of the demolition of the old Howard Frankland Bridge and beginning construction of the much needed expansion of I-275 in Pinellas County.”
Read the full release here.