No Funds Allocated for Truck Parking in
$1.8B DOT RAISE Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced $1.8 billion in funding for transportation and infrastructure projects across the United States. This funding comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. It aims to fix old infrastructure, make supply chains better, and improve transportation safety. Despite this big investment, none of the money is set aside for truck parking, which is a long-standing issue in the trucking industry.

Breakdown of Funding Allocation

The RAISE grants go to many important projects: maritime, rail, and trucking. Key projects and funding amounts are:

• Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska: $25M for Wrangell Harbor Basin project improving freight transport.
• Arkansas Department of Transportation: $25M for I-49 extension to help move freight better.
• Menominee, Michigan: $21.2M to update Menominee Harbor’s general cargo terminal.
• Puerto Rico Ports Authority: $21.2M to rebuild Wharf D at the Puerto Nuevo Docks for safer work conditions.
• Port of Bellingham, Washington: $17.9M for a rail connection to reduce truck traffic.
• Bernalillo County, NM: $15M for a regional supply chain system across California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
• Northern Nevada Development Authority: $6.1M to expand the Western Nevada Transload.
• NYC Department of Transportation: $5.6M to create an Urban Freight Mobility Collaborative with cargo bikes.
• San Diego Unified Port District: $5M to improve the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal for cargo handling.
• Nulato Village, Alaska: $3.9M for a port development project to lower shipping costs.
• Green River, Utah: $3.6M for the West Industrial Park Utilities Plan to create better freight routes.
• Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, SD: $3.2M to improve roadways for efficient goods transportation.
• York, Alabama: $3M to plan better railroad-highway crossings to reduce idling freight trains.
• American Samoa Government Department of Port Administration: $3M for a master plan for the Port of Pago Pago.
• West Piedmont Planning District Commission, Virginia: $1.6M for the Route 122 Regional Corridor Plan to improve last-mile freight deliveries.
• Makah Indian Tribe, Washington: $1.3M for the new Neah Bay Multi-Use Barge Loading Facility to increase freight movement.
• Rocky Mount, Virginia: $1M for improvements to State Route 40, including last-mile freight movement.
• Lincoln County, Nebraska: $750,000 to improve the Nebraska International Port of the Plains, including adding electric vehicles.
• America’s Central Port, Illinois: $550,000 to plan a freight rail connection.

Projects Highlighted by DOT

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked about the impact of these projects. Examples include:

• Durham, North Carolina: $12 million to make bus infrastructure safer for walkers and cyclists.
• Iowa: $25 million to replace 29 bridges in rural counties, improving safety for farmers and residents.
• Menominee, Michigan: $21 million to rebuild a dock wall and enhance rail infrastructure.

Lack of Funding for Truck Parking in RAISE Grants

Despite the large amount of money given out, the issue of truck parking is not addressed. This is important because truckers have long needed more safe and accessible parking. Secretary Buttigieg has mentioned this problem before, but the new grants do not include money for this need.

Celebrating the Investment

Leaders at local, state, and federal levels have praised the $1.8 billion investment from the RAISE grants. The funds are split equally between urban and rural areas, with many grants going to regions that have been historically overlooked.

The RAISE program is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. It focuses on rebuilding infrastructure using American-made materials, boosting private sector investment, lowering costs for families, and creating good-paying jobs for American workers.

National Praise for RAISE Grants

According to the US DOT, leaders across the country have praised the recent announcement:

• Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell – “Projects like this are why I supported the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”
• Maine Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree – “This funding will help make East Deering more accessible and safe.”
• Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb – “These trail projects connect residents to many resources and make neighborhoods safer.”
• Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper – “Better roads, trails, and mobility hubs will help build a safer, more connected Colorado.”
• Timothy J. Greene, Sr, Chairman of the Makah Tribe – “The RAISE 2024 funding will be used for planning and other important steps.”
• Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman – “This project will turn a blighted former rail yard into an engine for economic revitalization.”
• Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens – “We are enthusiastic about the improvements this brings to one of our fastest-growing neighborhoods.”
• California Senator Alex Padilla – “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for California communities.”
• New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. – “This new facility will boost economic opportunities in Carteret and the surrounding area.”
• Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy for Rails to Trails – “These investments make communities function better for everyone.”
• Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell – “Today marks a major step forward in our fight to eliminate blocked railroad crossings and provide safer transportation systems.”
• Jessica Mefford-Miller, CEO of Valley Metro, Arizona – “The $16 million award will help advance the streetcar extension into engineering.”
• Florida Congresswoman Kathy Castor – “Infrastructure investments are making our streets safer and more resilient to flooding.”
• Greeley Mayor John Gates – “These funds will be used to construct new interchanges on US Highway 34 to reduce crashes and congestion.”
• Washington Congressman Rick Larsen – “The Tulalip Tribes have the funding needed to make significant improvements at these crossings.”

Looking Ahead

The DOT RAISE grants in the amount of $1.8 billion are a big investment in America’s infrastructure. It targets many projects to improve transportation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. However, the lack of funds for truck parking shows a gap in addressing all transportation needs. This highlights the need for continued efforts to solve the truck parking problem that affects the daily work and safety of truck drivers nationwide.