West Virginia Secures $24 Million Grant for Truck Parking Enhancement

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) has announced that West Virginia will receive a significant $24 million grant aimed at improving truck parking facilities across the state, specifically in north central West Virginia.

The funds will be allocated to increase truck capacity at three current sites managed by the West Virginia Division of Highways, which includes a location along I-79 in Monongalia County. As noted by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the current situation reveals a staggering shortage, with only one parking spot available for every 11 trucks on the road.

“Truckers face daily dilemmas due to regulations on hours of service that dictate how long they can drive. […] They often must decide whether to stop early at a safe parking area,” explained Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice-President of OOIDA. “If they choose to stop early, their earnings decrease. If they continue driving in search of another parking option, they may risk violating hours of service limits or parking illegally, which is an unacceptable situation.”

This grant is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program.

Planned Improvements at Facilities

According to state transportation officials, the plans for the three facilities are as follows:

• I-81 in Berkeley County: Reconfigure welcome centers both northbound and southbound.
• Northbound: Increase truck parking from 20 to 55 spaces; car parking from 33 to 55.
• Southbound: Expand truck spaces from 34 to 41; car parking from 49 to 60.
• I-79 in Monongalia County: Replace the closed weigh stations at Goshen Road.
• Northbound: Construct 6 new truck parking spots.
• Southbound: Construct 6 new truck parking spots.
• I-64 in Cabell County: Reconfigure the eastbound welcome center.
• Expand truck spaces from 20 to 30, and relocate 57 car spaces to a new welcome center that will be built nearby.

Designs for the I-81 project are expected to be completed this year, while those for I-79 and I-64 are anticipated to finish by early 2026.

Pugh emphasized that these routes are heavily trafficked by trucks, stating, “West Virginia is a truck-heavy state with significant natural resources and industries requiring constant movement of goods. For West Virginia to remain competitive, it must prioritize the expansion of truck parking.”

Pugh also remarked that OOIDA has had discussions with Sen. Capito regarding the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which aims to provide $755 million in federal funding for expanding truck parking facilities nationwide—potentially benefiting West Virginia as well.

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