Proposal includes 1,000 new parking sites designed to boost capacity and streamline freight operations.
A high-profile group of private sector experts advising the U.S. Department of Transportation is urging federal officials to champion two massive infrastructure initiatives that could reshape the future of trucking across the Northeast and beyond.
During the second meeting of the DOT Advisory Board in Washington, members outlined a proposal for a truck only freight tunnel beneath the Hudson River linking New Jersey and Manhattan, as well as the development of 1,000 modern truck parking facilities nationwide, creating an estimated 40,000 new parking spaces with integrated service and safety standards.
A Dedicated Hudson River Truck Tunnel to Ease Northeast Gridlock
Board Chair Gregg Reuben introduced the tunnel concept as a key component of a larger multi modal corridor that would include a new Hudson River bridge designed for passenger vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. Reuben suggested designating the corridor as a “9/11 Memorial Project,” highlighting its national significance.
According to Reuben, the Northeast faces one of the most severe freight bottlenecks in the country. An estimated 125,000 trucks enter New York City every day, overwhelming the region’s outdated road infrastructure.
“There simply isn’t enough through capacity for freight,” Reuben noted. “And demand is climbing some projections show a 30% increase in truck volume within the next five years.”
A dedicated freight tunnel, he argued, could dramatically improve flow for both trucks and passenger vehicles, reducing congestion, fuel consumption, emissions, and dwell time critical issues for fleets operating in the Northeast corridor.
What makes the proposal particularly notable is that it could be structured as a public private partnership (P3), potentially minimizing the financial burden on taxpayers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized President Trump’s willingness to tackle large scale infrastructure ideas, asking about local and state support.
Board members acknowledged that cooperation from New York, New Jersey, and the Port Authority would be essential, but emphasized the project’s potential to transform the region’s economy and transportation efficiency.
Truck Parking Crisis Back in the Spotlight
The Advisory Board also focused heavily on one of trucking’s most urgent problems: chronic truck parking shortages. To address the issue, the board recommends that the DOT lead a nationwide effort to establish 1,000 DOT-certified parking sites over the next three years.
These new facilities would offer:
– Safe, compliant parking spaces
– Adequate lighting and security features
– Basic amenities for drivers
– Space for staging, rest, and freight operations
Reuben, who is also CEO of Centerpark, explained that the team conducted a “hot mapping” analysis to pinpoint regions with the most severe shortages. Many of the proposed sites would be built on dormant or unused properties, transforming them into productive logistics assets.
A key part of the plan includes a reservation based parking system, enabling drivers and carriers to locate and secure parking in advance, helping fleets plan routes more efficiently and cut down on wasted hours searching for safe places to stop.
Parking Sites to Evolve Into Digital Freight Consolidation Hubs
Beyond solving parking shortages, the board envisions a network of digitally enabled consolidation centers incorporated into parking locations. These centers would help carriers improve freight utilization a major inefficiency in the industry today.
While truck usage rates hover around 90%, Reuben noted that average load utilization is only about 50%. By using technology driven consolidation hubs, the goal is to push load capacity toward 80%, which could:
- Reduce the number of trucks required to move the same volume
- Improve delivery speed
- Lower operating costs
- Decrease congestion and environmental impact
This approach aligns with nationwide efforts to optimize freight logistics without further straining aging infrastructure.
Still Early, but Momentum Is Building
Reuben emphasized that both the freight tunnel and the truck parking expansion are still in the recommendation phase. However, industry stakeholders consider them potentially transformative for freight movement, driver safety, and regional mobility.
If implemented, these projects would represent one of the most ambitious freight infrastructure upgrades in modern U.S. history with far reaching benefits for carriers, drivers, shippers, and the general public.
