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JFK is adding more truck parking. It could mean fewer big rigs on Queens streets.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Aug 5, 2025
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Courtesy Gaz Realty
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Aug 5, 2025
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For years, Southeast Queens residents have complained about 18-wheeler truck drivers using their neighborhood near JFK Airport as a parking lot. Now, the Port Authority says it’s finally tackling the problem by building a massive new truck parking plaza on airport property.
The project, which broke ground on Tuesday, will add 100 new parking spaces for cargo trucks to an existing plaza at the airport, tripling the number of currently available spots.
It will also include new restrooms, food options and electric vehicle chargers. Officials said the $20 billion JFK modernization effort was about improving conditions for truckers at the airport and quality of life for nearby communities who’ve long dealt with truck congestion on their blocks.
Borough President Donovan Richards said the project will address the problem in a way that ticketing never has.
“We know that for a lot of the truckers, unfortunately in the companies, that this was just a cost of doing business — eating the tickets, partially because the infrastructure was not put in place,” he said. “So today is really a great day.”
JFK Airport handled 1.67 million tons of cargo last year, making it the eighth-busiest cargo airport in the United States, according to the Port Authority, all with just 50 on-site truck parking spots.
The new spaces will be part of the JFK Airport Plaza, which is also used by airport employees, taxi drivers and for-hire vehicle drivers. Officials say that in addition to reducing congestion, the expansion will help cut down on truck idling in nearby neighborhoods.
The new truck plaza is expected to open by late 2026.
Tagged
public safety
queens
transportation
Catalina Gonella
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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