The Michigan and Ohio departments of transportation have announced the expansion of their respective Truck Parking Information and Management Systems (TPIMS) as part of an eight-state Midwest truck parking initiative.
Michigan DOT says it is adding new parking locations at the rest area in Carleton along I-275; the I-75 welcome center in Monroe; and at six I-94 rest areas in Richmond, Adair, Belleville, Grass Lake, Chelsea and Sandstone. MDOT will also put up nine new signs to alert truckers of available parking in the rest areas.
Ohio DOT announced it will also put up signs for nine rest areas in the state to let truckers know how much parking is available at each location. The locations are: I-70 in Licking, Madison and Belmont counties; I-75 in Butler, Miami, Auglaize, Hancock and Wood counties; and U.S. Highway 33 in Union County.
Truck parking information will be displayed on the signs as well as online and in the OHGO mobile app.
The expansion in both states is part of a federal grant awarded to the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO), which is made up of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Iowa launched its TPIMS system in December 2017. Each state is responsible for implementing its own system, and the states will eventually connect to create a regional system.