TxDOT holding workshops to assess truck parking availability, highway design needs

The following comes from TxDOT:

TxDOT is conducting a Statewide Truck Parking Study and assessing current highway design and how it impacts the movement of freight in the state of Texas. A workshop is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at the UTPB CEED Building, 1310 North FM 1788.

The Midland event is one of several statewide workshops designed to gather input from freight shippers, drivers, logistics professionals and facility operators to assess truck parking and freight infrastructure design needs, challenges, opportunities and solutions.

Texas’ transportation system was built over multiple decades and, as a result, many highways were not designed for today’s freight vehicles and transportation requirements. In addition, significant technological advances are changing the way freight moves. The study will be looking at how to make improvements to pavement, bridges, rail crossings, intersections, tunnels and access points to better assist freight mobility.

These meetings are open to public and those who work in the freight industry.

The Odessa District invites interested parties to sign up and join the discussion. The energy industry has unique freight characteristics. It is vitally important that industry professionals attend this event and offer their point of view. With oversized loads, frac sand hauling, water hauling and rig moving, the localized freight movements in the Permian Basin offers a much different trucking environment than traditional over-the-road, cross-country freight. Having local industry professionals will offer invaluable insight.

To register for the event, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W39TDLT. A survey is also available online at https://texasfreightstudies.metroquest.com/. Emails may be sent to TxDOT_Freight@TxDOT.Gov. For more information about freight, call 512-710-9871. For more information, visit www.movetexasfreight.com or contact Gene Powell at gene.powell@txdot.gov or (432) 498-4746.