Solicitation Letter

SOLICITATION LETTER

The purpose of this memorandum is to solicit FY 2006 candidate grant applications from the States for the Truck Parking Facilities Grant Program. This program was established thorough the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, P.L. 109-59, Section 1305). The program was authorized for $6.25 million annually through 2009.

The program is established to address the shortage of long-term truck parking on the National Highway System. Adequate truck parking has long been recognized as a key factor in both safety and congestion management. The Truck Parking Facilities Program has been established to construct, promote, or make available safe haven parking in areas where there is a demonstrated shortage of commercial vehicle parking. A total of $5,385,000 is available in FY 2006 for this program.

Grants will be awarded to States submitting applications that demonstrate a need for assistance in carrying out one or more eligible projects as outlined below:

1. Promoting the real-time dissemination availability of publicly or privately provided commercial motor vehicle parking availability on the National Highway System using ITS and other means;

2. Opening non-traditional facilities to commercial motor vehicle parking, including inspection and weigh stations, and park and ride facilities;

3. Making capital improvements to public commercial motor vehicle parking facilities currently closed on a seasonal basis to allow the facilities to remain open year round;

4. Constructing turnouts along the NHS to facilitate commercial motor vehicle access to parking facilities, and/or improving the geometric design of interchanges to improve access to commercial motor vehicle parking facilities;

5. Constructing commercial motor vehicle parking facilities adjacent to commercial truck stops and travel plazas; and

6. Constructing safety rest areas that include parking for commercial motor vehicles

Please refer to Attachment 1 for additional guidance.

As an alternative to paper, applications may be submitted electronically after the Division Office has reviewed them for eligibility, completeness, etc. This memorandum and attachments is being provided in Microsoft Word format and is also being posted on the Federal Highway Administration’s website (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/) The State's application should describe the project in enough detail to demonstrate that it meets one or more of the goals of this program. Applications and other support documents that provide a further description of the project, such as the scope of work and bridge plans, should be completed and submitted to the FHWA Division Office no later than September 8, 2006, and to the Office of Freight Management and Operations on or before October 8, 2006.

Please provide this information to your State Department of Transportation as soon as possible.

Questions concerning this program should be addressed to William Mahorney (202) 366-6817 (bill.mahorney@fhwa.dot.gov) of the Office of Freight Management and Operations.

Attachment