U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has allocated $6 million to help address the parking shortage for commercial trucks on five U.S. interstates.

These highways include Interstate 15 in Utah, I-10 in Mississippi, I-5 in Oregon, I-40 in Tennessee and I-81 in Pennsylvania.

The funds will go toward adding parking capacity and to developing innovative ways to keep truck drivers up to date on space availability along these freight corridors.

In order to receive funds, a state, metropolitan planning organization, or local government must submit an application. Priority will be given to those that demonstrate a severe shortage of commercial vehicle parking in the corridor; have consulted with affected state and local governments, community groups, providers of commercial vehicle parking, and motorist and trucking organizations; and demonstrate that their proposed projects are likely to have positive effects on highway safety, traffic congestion or air quality.

Projects that would be funded include constructing safety rest areas that include commercial vehicle parking or constructing commercial vehicle parking facilities adjacent to commercial truckstops and travel plazas. Other use of funds may include opening existing facilities to commercial vehicles; promoting the availability of publicly or privately provided commercial vehicle parking; constructing turnouts for commercial vehicles; making capital improvements to public truck parking facilities to allow year-round use; and improving the geometric design of interchanges to improve access to parking facilities.

For more information, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/factsheets/truckpark.htm.