Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations

Statewide Freight Plan Template

For More Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/index.cfm
Contact Information: FreightFeedback@dot.gov

June 2011

FHWA-HOP-11-026

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Freight Management and Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: 202-366-0408
Fax: 202-366-3225

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/

screenshot of the cover of the State Freight Plan template.

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Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products of manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HOP-11-026

2. Government Accession No.


3. Recipient's Catalog No.


4. Title and Subtitle

Statewide Freight Plan Template

5. Report Date

June 2011

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Carol Keenan and Kate Quinn, FHWA
Laura Feast and Jennifer Symoun, SAIC

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
8301 Greensboro Drive
McLean, VA 22102-3600

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Freight Management and Operations
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Carol Keenan, COTM

16. Abstract

This report provides a template that State Department of Transportation (DOTs) can use to develop a Statewide Freight
Plan. Elements of this Statewide Freight Plan can be used by States individually or in its entirety to develop their freight
plan. Examples from New Jersey, Minnesota, and Southern California are provided to show how agencies have used a
format similar to the one showcased here to advance their freight programs.

17. Key Words

Freight transportation, freight network, freight mobility,
congestion, trade, economy, safety, energy use, emissions,
freight plan, USDOT Funding Programs, infrastructure
and traffic profiles, security, land use, capital plans
and programs, action plan

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions.

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No of Pages

36

22. Price

N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72)
Reproduction of completed page authorized.

 

Purpose of the Freight Plan Template

Integrating freight in statewide transportation plans and/or developing a separate statewide freight plan has become increasingly important due to several factors:

  • Increasing globalization and a corresponding economic (National, State and Local) dependence on expanding supply chains and transportation reliability (water, air, rail, highway, and pipeline).
  • Recognition by business leaders at all levels that efficient freight transportation is a key factor in economic (National, State, and Local) competitiveness and vitality.
  • Heightened awareness from both the private and public sectors that investment from both are needed if not required, to meet increasing freight transportation demands.
  • Increasing demands for transportation among both passenger and freight interests creating stress on the transportation system resulting in congestion and bottlenecks in key locations that are detrimental to productivity.

These factors have contributed to a heightened emphasis in the Federal-Aid Highway program reflected in the bills from ISTEA (1991) to SAFETEA-LU (2005) (and anticipated) on freight transportation.

Freight transportation issues are complex, involving many stakeholders who have different views on and approaches to resolving the issues and challenges facing the freight transportation industry. Today, one of the biggest challenges facing public sector transportation professionals is incorporating freight perspectives into the transportation planning process. The template is intended to assist State DOTs in including freight analysis in the update of their plans and/or developing a separate freight plan. The template presents options for including freight in the planning process. Freight planning should not be conducted as an isolated element, but should be incorporated into the overall planning process. To incorporate freight planning elements into the plan, several issues will be faced, including data collection, inclusion of private sector freight representatives, conflicting planning timelines and forecasting freight traffic.

If a State decides to develop a freight plan, the State may find it helpful to use the entire document, or draw upon specific elements that are relevant to their unique situation.

States are encouraged to develop their freight plan in coordination with all public and private sector entities that are involved with freight movement. Outreach will be a key component of developing an effective freight plan. Developing and fostering relationships with all freight stakeholders will ensure that the plan addresses key issues and concerns of all involved in freight movement in the State.

 

Table of Contents

Purpose of the Statewide Freight Plan Template
Introduction
Statewide Freight Plan Template
Executive Summary
Introduction
Purpose
Goals and Objectives
Outreach
Engaging the Private Sector
Engaging the Public Sector
State Freight Characteristics
Economic and Demographic Data
Overview of the Freight System
Global and National Trade Characteristics
Major Characteristics of the Global Freight System
Key Global Freight Corridors
International Relationships
Passenger Linkages/Conflicts
Regional Trade Characteristics
Overview of the Region
Major Characteristics of the Regional Freight System
Key Regional Freight Corridors
Jurisdictional Relationships within the Region
Urban Area Considerations within the Region
Passenger Linkages/Conflicts within the Region
Intrastate Trade Characteristics
Major Characteristics of the Intrastate Freight System
Key Intrastate Freight Corridors
Jurisdictional Relationships within the State
Urban Area Considerations within the State
Passenger Linkages/Conflicts within the State
Characteristics of Key Industries
Characteristics of Key Commodities
Terminals, Warehousing/Distribution Centers, and Support Facilities
Modal Infrastructure and Traffic Profiles
Air
Ports and Waterways
Rail
Highway
Pipeline
Intermodal Facilities
Safety
Security
Congestion Management
Land Use
Environmental Considerations
Freight Programs & Coordination
Capital Plans and Programs
Freight Needs
Capital Plans and Programs
Funding
Performance Objectives and Measures
Future Freight Transportation Planning
Future Trends/Opportunities
Future Issues and Strategies
Recommendations/Implementation of the Plan
Global and National Action Items
Regional Action Items
Intrastate Action Items
Infrastructure Action Items
Lifecycle and Asset Management Action Items
Outreach Action Items
Conclusion


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