This project is a part of INDOT’s comprehensive Rest Area and Truck Parking Plan, which provides guidelines for the future construction and maintenance of the agency’s rest area portfolio.

The purpose of this project was to reduce truck parking congestion at the I-65 NB and SB rest. The existing I-65 Taylorsville Rest Area was built in 1975 to serve both passenger vehicles and trucks. The existing truck parking lots are undersized for current and predicted future truck capacity demands. Lack of adequate parking availability has resulted in unauthorized truck parking along the entire lengths of the entrance and exit ramps at the NB and SB rest areas. INDOT’s plan for this rest area pair is to convert them to truck-only parking facilities. The new facilities will have expanded truck parking capacity, and small restroom and vending areas, but will not have the usual passenger vehicle rest area buildings, parking, and facilities.

Metric provided all services required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and associated Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) requirements, including preparing the Categorical Exclusion Level 4; Red Flag Investigation; Agency Coordination; Rare, Threatened and Endangered species coordination using the Information for Planning and Consultation; Waters Determination/Delineation; Full Section 106 (Above-Ground Historical and Archaeology Phase 1a); Asbestos Building Inspections; Noise Analysis; Section 401 and 404 Waterway Permits; and Construction Stormwater General Permit.

Metric worked with the designer and State Facilities Director to stay on schedule and complete tasks in a timely manner. Metric staff attended monthly design team meetings to stay abreast of project changes as they occurred. As part of the public involvement for the project, Metric prepared environmental slides and talking points for the Public Information Meeting PowerPoint presentation. A Metric staff member along with a representative from the design firm recorded the presentation for and attended the meeting.

Due to the proximity of residential homes to the planned expanded truck parking areas, Metric worked closely with INDOT Environmental Services Division and conducted a noise analysis to analyze potential noise impacts that would be generated by the modification of the existing rest areas. Based on the results of the analysis and considering the viewpoints of benefited residents and property owners, INDOT is planning on constructing a noise barrier along the right-of-way line on the east side of the I-65 NB rest area. No noise barrier is required at the I-65 SB rest area.

The consulting services performed by Metric were completed on time, without any safety incidents, and within budget. Metric consulted with the client at the start of the project to identify objectives and successfully met these planned objectives as well as requirements at the Taylorsville Rest Area.