Colorado Truck Parking Information Management System FASTLANE 2016 • April 14, 2016 Previously Incurred Project Cost $0 Future Eligible Project Cost $9,000,000 Total Project Cost $9,000,000 NSFHP Request $5,000,000 Total Federal Funding (including NSFHP) $7,200,000 Are matching funds restricted to a specific project component? If so, which one? No Is the project or a portion of the project currently located on National Highway Freight Network? Yes Is the project or a portion of the project located on the National Highway System? Yes • Does the project add capacity to the Interstate system? No • Is the project in a national scenic area? No Do the project components include a railway-highway grade crossing or grade separation project? No Do the project components include an intermodal or freight rail project, or freight project within the No boundaries of a public or private freight rail, water (including ports), or intermodal facility? If answered yes to either of the two component questions above, how much of requested NSFHP funds N/A will be spent on each of these projects components? State(s) in which project is located Colorado Small or large project Small Also submitting an application to TIGER for this project? No Urbanized Area in which project is located, if applicable N/A Population of Urbanized Area? N/A Is the project currently programmed in the: • TIP? No • STIP? No • MPO Long Range Transportation Plan? No • State Long Range Transportation Plan? Yes • State Freight Plan? Yes Table of Contents A. Project Description ............................................................................................... 1 B. Project Location .................................................................................................... 8 C. Project Parties ....................................................................................................... 9 D. Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of Project Funds ...............................................11 E. Cost-Effectiveness .............................................................................................. 12 F. Project Readiness .................................................................................................16 G. Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies ..................................... 19 Appendices Appendix A: Letters of Support Appendix B: Benefit-Cost Analysis Appendix C: Related Plans and Studies Photo courtesy of Post Independent i A. Project Description As truck drivers deal with more stringent hours of service requirements, a real need Today’s modern over the road truck drivers has developed for over-the-road truckers to are increasingly experiencing more trouble have access to accurate, real-time, readily around major cities finding adequate available information on parking and roadway parking after 5pm. Limited parking conditions. The Colorado Department of situations only add to the stress drivers face Transportation (CDOT) recognizes this need while planning travel to meet strict pickup and is proposing to develop the Colorado and delivery times that the majority of the Truck Parking Information Management public doesn’t understand. System (TPIMS) to better address commercial — Kevin Stahly, Celadon OTR Driver vehicle parking needs throughout the state. The (Kevin shared these thoughts after a rough Colorado TPIMS will monitor commercial and delivery trip from Colorado to Chicago) public parking availability along the National Highway Freight Network, distribute real-time parking availability information to operators of available hours of service. These actions and dispatchers, and facilitate parking often fill available parking to capacity, reservations, all through multiple technology causing drivers to seek alternative parking applications. sites that may be unsafe, illegal, a nuisance to communities, or otherwise cause drivers to Project development will be forward looking, exceed hours of service in search of suitable and emphasize expandability, interoperability, parking. Under these conditions, truck drivers and modularity to support participation with create conditions that are unsafe for themselves neighboring states. Colorado continues to and other motorists. The consequences for work with its neighboring states towards a these drivers are potentially severe due to not multi-state TPIMS in the near future. While being able to find legal long-term parking. solidifying these plans, Colorado will forge ahead with the Colorado TPIMS, and plan A modular and phase-able approach was wisely for its eventual integration into a larger developed to provide drivers the information multi-western state truck parking system. they need to plan stops or find alternative These efforts also will align the project routes in the safest and easiest ways possible. to be compatible, complimentary, and the The comprehensive plan and toolsets proposed next logical extension of the Mid America for Colorado will significantly improve Association of State Transportation Officials truck parking issues. The state-of-the-art (MAASTO) TPIMS approach. applications of technology, coupled with connections to current and planned solutions A truck parking information management underway in neighboring states, will produce system is especially important in Colorado, an innovative, yet practical and cost-effective, where congestion, topography, and severe model for truck parking applications with weather frequently combine to hinder the national applicability and benefit. efficient movement of national and regional commercial freight traffic. Because drive times Figure 1 on the following page depicts our often are unpredictable, the drivers’ planned approach to developing an effective TPIMS for stopping points frequently are abandoned in Colorado. favor of hastily made, last-minute decisions to stop for rest due to fatigue and depletion 1 Figure 1: Colorado TPIMS 2 Outcomes The merits of the Colorado TPIMS benefit criteria relating to economic competitiveness, mobility, safety, as well as community and the environment. Economic Outcomes The Colorado TPIMS would improve freight delivery reliability and shipping time efficiency by reducing the costs and delays associated with truck drivers searching for Accurate road conditions and closure notices available parking areas or winter chain up will improve mobility in Colorado areas, or drivers deciding to find alternative routes or making early stops during road alternative routes or safe alternative parking closures or severe weather. As demonstrated locations far in advance of the closure. Data in the Cost-Effectiveness section beginning on will be available for fleet managers and page 12 (including Appendix B), the capital dispatchers for decision making leading to outlay to create a TPIMS is estimated to return improved trip and fleet efficiencies. Traffic significant public benefits within one year. Management Centers (TMCs) can use The ability of a TPIMS to greatly improve real-time information to better implement freight delivery reliability and shipping time operational strategies. efficiency is a key aspect of national economic The Colorado TPIMS Project will not add competitiveness. Figure 2 highlights the freight or replace existing truck parking facilities; analysis framework in Colorado. rather, it will deploy an innovative package Figure 2: 2040 Freight Analysis of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Framework Truck Forecast technology at existing facilities to optimize truck parking facility utilization and performance. The Colorado TPIMS will use a system of sensors and cameras to convey traveler information to eliminate overcrowding and distribute trucks across a collection of available parking areas. Overcrowding at facilities often causes trucks to park on rest area ramps or on truck stop exits or roadway shoulders, which leads to pavement degradation. Pavement on the shoulders and ramps is not designed to support commercial vehicle parking. The damage to the pavement has led to the need for expensive Mobility Outcomes repairs over time. In urban areas, truck drivers When inclement weather or severe crashes using the TPIMS spend less time driving in result in unexpected road closures, predictive urban settings looking for parking. Less time road conditions including estimated duration spent on urban streets decreases wear and of closure and parking availability information tear on those roads. Reduced truck volume will be communicated to both truckers and on urban streets also benefits motorists by dispatchers, thereby allowing drivers to find decreasing congestion. 3 Safety Outcomes safety concerns. In some cases, the crashes Having real-time TPIMS information about have resulted in lane or road closures. Even if parking capacity, closed roads, chain-up no crashes occur, simply having large vehicles stations, road conditions, and pending weather parked along the edge of the road can cause made available in advance will allow drivers to “side friction,” which has a detrimental effect make wise—and safe—decisions about where on the flow of traffic in adjacent lanes. and when to park. Increased information also According to CDOT’s Colorado Traffic allows truck drivers to make more informed Management Center database, commercial decisions to reduce the likelihood of hours- trucks were involved in more than 159 hours of of-service violations. With better information, full or partial road closures between January drivers are more likely to find and use 1, 2015, and