Florida Seeks to Add Truck Parking Near Miami
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Florida is exploring project delivery options in an $18 million plan to add 135 truck parking spaces in a new truck travel center near the Golden Glades interchange and close to Miami.
The Florida Department of Transportation wants the future Golden Glades Truck Travel Center to increase the number of convenient and safe truck parking spaces in the urban Miami area where such parking availability comes at a premium and the nearest full-service truck stop is 22 miles north in Broward County (595 Truck Stop in Davie).
GGTTC’s location near the Golden Glades interchange where major freight transportation corridors intersect would make shipping more efficient by decreasing delays, due to its proximity to major freight centers. Also, it would help truck drivers comply with federal and state hours-of-service requirements, preventing driver fatigue.
The interchange in Miami-Dade County links five major roadways. FDOT selected the GGTTC location on a 15-acre parcel it owns that boasts access to major freight corridors including the State Route 91 (Turnpike), State Route 826 (Palmetto Expressway), U.S. 441 and Interstate 95.
GGTTC Fact Sheet by Transport Topics on Scribd
FDOT has been developing a design build request for proposals and scheduled procurement from the third quarter through mid-2023.
Cynthia Turcios, communications specialist at FDOT’s District Six, told Transport Topics a more definitive construction start date will be published once project delivery options have been fully vetted and analyzed later this year or in early 2023.
FDOT originally stated that GGTTC construction to bolster South Florida’s regional transportation network would begin in December 2023 for the $18 million project on the eastern part of the existing Golden Glades Park and Ride Facility.
When complete, the site may include truck fueling stations, a truck repair facility, truck wash, certified static scale, security features and a Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS) and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Other amenities under consideration by FDOT are car parking spaces, a travel center with retail space and fast-food restaurants.
Features such as a TPAS, security enhancements and ITS will be contingent on final input from industry stakeholders, FDOT and the project developer, noted Turcios.
“At this time, no final decisions have been made on additional amenities beyond the truck parking spaces,” she added.
The GGTTC is to add 135 truck parking spaces to Miami-Dade County’s current number of spaces estimated at 8,800 to 10,480, according to this year’s FDOT District Six Truck Parking Supply and Demand Analysis.
“Based on ongoing studies, demand for truck parking in Miami-Dade County is over 12,000 spaces, suggesting there is a shortfall,” Turcios said.
To accommodate 12,000 truck parking spaces would require more than 1,100 acres to develop, FDOT projects.
Trucks move the majority of freight transported through Miami-Dade County, where parking shortages have led the state to identify several land parcels to develop for potential truck parking. The county has two deepwater seaports (the Port of Miami and Key West), seven public airports and two railroads.
“In a county with limited undeveloped land, a wide mix of land uses and high land values, finding appropriate locations to build such facilities has proven to be a challenge despite the efforts of the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, Miami-Date Freight Advisory Committee and FDOT District 6 to encourage the development of new truck parking locations,” noted a 2018 Miami-Dade County Freight Plan Update.
FDOT is currently finalizing “Miami-Dade Truck Parking Implementation Master Plan,” a countywide comprehensive site feasibility analysis to identify any potential properties that may be developed to provide additional truck parking locations throughout the county, Turcios noted.
As part of the GGTTC project, FDOT has mentioned it would hold industry forums. Turcios said none have been held yet, but one forum is expected later this year or in early 2023.
Florida averages 29.6 million daily truck miles traveled on its state highway system. During peak periods, truck parking demand can exceed 150% in some areas in the state, according to FDOT.
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