The MAP Forum, in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York City Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Department of Transportation conducted an informal survey of truck drivers serving the Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania region in May 2020. WestCOG is a participant in the MAP Forum, along with several other Connecticut COGs and planning organizations in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Prior to the pandemic, the lack of adequate truck parking had long been recognized as a constraint on the efficient movement of goods in the multistate region surrounding New York City. The pandemic put a spotlight on the issue, as some rest areas and services (including restaurants and public restrooms) were temporarily closed.
Collectively, the agencies decided to develop one survey to gauge the issues truck drivers were facing during the pandemic and to better understand their parking needs. The survey’s intent was to help identify and assess additional measures—such as the temporary parking facilities established in New York City—to ease the delivery of day-to-day and emergency supplies. Going forward, the results will also help inform ongoing discussions about longer-term truck parking needs in the four-state area.