Officials hope truck parking expansion at JFK Airport will reduce illegal truck parking in Queens communities
This week, work began on a project that will triple the amount of available truck parking at the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens, New York.
On August 5, 2025, ground was broken on a project to expand on-airport truck parking “to better manage the increasing cargo operations at JFK while also addressing community concerns with the growing number of trucks that park illegally on neighborhood streets near the airport.”
The project will triple JFK’s current truck parking capacity by demolishing a long-vacant building on the property, adding parking spaces for up to 100 additional trucks, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. New concessions and restrooms will also be added as part of the project.
The project is expected to be completed by late 2026.
Illegal overnight truck parking has been a major concern in Queens for years.
This week, members of the 103 Pct. and our Traffic Enforcement Division conducted a heavy tow operation to address community complaints by targeting illegally parked commercial vehicles. In NYC, it is illegal to park a commercial vehicle on a residential street from 9pm to 5am. pic.twitter.com/R4LecMBpa2
— NYPD Queens South (@NYPDQueensSouth) March 22, 2024
“A hard fought victory is happening for neighbors of JFK Airport! For years, residents have complained about trucks being parked illegally in the surrounding streets. We are grateful the airport will be tripling their truck parking lot at JFK, providing our truckers a safe space to leave their vehicles overnight,” said New York state Assembly member Khaleel Anderson. “JFK Airport is the heart of the NYC economy, but it shouldn’t burden neighbors. As the volume and size of cargo increases, I continue to ask residents to report illegally parked trucks.”
“The groundbreaking for JFK’s new expanded parking plaza is a win for our local economy, our environment, and our communities,” said U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks of New York. “By improving cargo movement and reducing the number of illegal vehicles parked alongside our streets and airport roads, we’re addressing long-standing community concerns and enhancing efficiency. Additionally, this project also meets the Port Authority’s ambitious sustainability goals by incorporating electric vehicle charging, supporting zero-waste initiatives, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This is clear proof that JFK can modernize their infrastructure in a way that is accommodating for the businesses and communities they serve.”
“With the $20 billion modernization of Kennedy Airport comes a continued expansion of the facility’s capacity to process cargo. But that doesn’t mean families living near the airport should bear the burden of added truck traffic on their local streets, creating concerns around air quality and street safety,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This significant expansion of truck parking at JFK means they will not have to. Thank you to our partners at the Port Authority for continuing to address community concerns like these.”