ALBANY - New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced a joint effort with the New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Motor Truck Association to study the rest area needs of the trucking community. The $600,000 Truck Intercept Survey, sponsored by NYSDOT, will be conducted over the next 24 months at various public and private rest areas and truck stops on State highways.

“Understanding the rest area requirements of the commercial trucking industry will help focus our resources on strategic improvements and additions that will better serve the needs of truckers,” Commissioner Glynn said. “The Department of Transportation is committed to looking at ways to improve our rest areas so they have the capability to effectively support the trucking community.”

The purpose of the Truck Intercept Survey is to interview truckers traveling on the New York State highway system to collect data on rest area needs, including which segments of the trucking community are being satisfactorily served; what types of services and amenities should current and future public and private truck stops, rest areas and travel plazas offer to the trucking community; and what other factors can help make sure that future facilities are well located to serve the trucking community and ensure safety and convenience of all travelers.

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer said, “The New York State Thruway Authority is proud to partner with NYSDOT in a comprehensive study aimed at identifying opportunities for improving commercial services in New York State. The study will provide the basis for future improvements of our facilities that will best serve the commercial trucking industry and to keep unnecessary truck traffic off local roads. This is an important step in improving the safe and effective means for the movement of goods and services, providing benefits to our customers and enhancing the quality of life for communities across the State.”

New York State Motor Truck Association President William Joyce said, “Truckers are finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable, dedicated parking areas that will allow them to conform to hours of service regulations. This survey is an excellent step in determining those needs by asking the actual users – trucking companies and drivers.”

Information collected will be used to help transportation agencies better understand the unique parking and rest area needs of the trucking community and appropriately plan for these needs. NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority will use this data to develop policy on public and private sector roles, and to guide future capital investments, infrastructure improvement projects and decisions for locating and operating public rest areas.

Survey teams will seek participation from truckers at select rest areas in the Hudson Valley and throughout Upstate New York. All data collected will be kept confidential and will not contain any driver, vehicle or carrier identifications. Participation in the survey is optional. A similar effort is under way to survey the trucking industry in the New York City Metro area, under the sponsorship of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council.

The two-year state project will begin in late April. Data collection will initially take place at 15 sites over a 12 month period, with a second round of data collection occurring at 15 separate sites. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2010.

The survey is being designed and performed by NuStats, based in Austin, Texas, as a result of NYSDOT’s standard low-bid contract award process. This minority-owned, full-service survey research firm specializes in personal travel behavior and transportation research.