A public agency is considering sites along 15 miles of Interstate 40, east of Forest City, Ark., to build a truckstop that can park 1,000 trucks.
“It’s going to be the nation’s largest truckstop,” said Bobby May, a consultant for the St. Francis County Transportation Commission. “We want it to be a destination, a Disney World for truckers.”
State and federal agencies have allocated $400,000 for the St. Francis County Transportation Mall, which is expected to cost $18 million to $20 million.
“It would have all the modern facilities a trucker could ever want,” May said.
A sheriff’s substation, with someone on duty 24-hours per day, would be located on the site, as well as a private security force. Truck parking would be segregated by truck type, such as putting reefers in one area so that the motors kicking on would not disturb other truckers.
“Top-notch” rest rooms would be available, May said, and amenities such as laundry facilities and shore power hook-ups would be provided. A shuttle service would take truckers from the parking area to a strip mall located on the site.
Of the funding obtained so far, $120,000 has gone to Arkansas State University for a feasibility study. Other funding has paid consulting, engineering and administration fees. The Delta Regional Authority recently granted the commission $100,000 for the project.
