Led by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Interstate 10 Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS) project aids truck drivers in finding safe and efficient parking along this specific highway corridor. Costing $2.7 million, TPAS detects available parking along the route and relays real-time information to drivers, reducing time and fuel spent searching for parking and the risk of parking in unsafe spots or driving while fatigued. Electronic road signs and the state’s 511 system now guide drivers to parking at six rest areas along I-10 in New Mexico. Additionally, the state collaborates with mobile application developers to integrate TPAS information directly into trucking-specific apps. Before the implementation of the TPAS system, drivers often struggled to find authorized parking. This frequently resulted in truckers parking in unauthorized or unsafe locations, such as along highway shoulders, entrance and exit ramps, or local streets. The search for parking also forced many to exceed their hours-of-service drive time limits. By monitoring, collecting data, and communicating real-time information about truck parking availability, TPAS enables drivers to plan by knowing the distance to the next safe pull-off area, the location of restrooms, and the number of available parking spaces.
America's Transportation Awards 