Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act
HB1659, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, would create a new competitive federal grant program within title 23 of the U.S. Code to help states, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional entities build, expand, reopen, or improve parking for commercial motor vehicles. The bill is aimed at addressing the shortage of truck parking on the federal-aid highway system and improving highway safety, freight movement, traffic congestion, and air quality. Eligible projects include new safety rest areas with truck parking, additional parking at or near truck stops, freight facilities, weigh stations, park-and-ride lots, and other suitable locations with reasonable access to highways or freight facilities.
The bill also allows grant funds to support planning and preconstruction work, but limits those activities to 25 percent of a grant. It requires publicly accessible parking for all commercial drivers and prohibits charging drivers a fee to access parking built, opened, maintained, or improved with these grants. The bill expressly bars use of these funds for construction or development of charging or fueling infrastructure for vehicle propulsion, while allowing other non-program funds to be used for that purpose. Projects funded under the program would be treated as projects on a federal-aid highway, and grant funds would remain available for three years after the fiscal year in which they are made available.
If enacted, the bill would add a new section 180 to title 23 of the U.S. Code and create a dedicated federal truck-parking grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation. It would expand the types of entities eligible for federal assistance, set project selection criteria, require periodic federal reporting on parking availability and program effectiveness, and authorize $151 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The measure would also affect how transportation agencies plan, build, and operate commercial motor vehicle parking facilities by tying federal funding to public access, maintenance capability, and geographic distribution of new capacity.
Based on the bill text and sponsorship, the overall sentiment appears broadly supportive and safety-oriented. The measure is framed as a national priority to address a documented shortage of truck parking, and the bipartisan list of original cosponsors suggests cross-party interest in the issue. No committee debate or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence in the supplied materials of organized opposition or amendment activity.
The main policy tensions in the bill are likely to center on funding priorities, federal versus local control, and the scope of eligible uses. The bill limits planning costs and bars use of program funds for charging or fueling infrastructure, which may be important to supporters who want the money focused strictly on truck parking, but could be a point of disagreement for those seeking broader electrification or alternative-fuel accommodations. Another possible point of contention is the prohibition on user fees for grant-funded parking, which could affect how public agencies and private partners recover operating costs. The bill also requires consultation with motor carriers, drivers, safety officials, and private parking providers, indicating that balancing public and private interests is a core issue.