Preserving and Protecting Freight Infrastructure and Routes (2012) / Chapter Skim
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This includes state departments of commerce and transportation, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) , local officials and their planning offices, legislators and their staffs, freight facility developers, freight operators, and real estate concerns.
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From page 2... ...
Improvements in freight transportation efficiency, reliability, and level of service have numerous economic benefits for production efficiency, optimization of distribution networks, and product choice, and -- ultimately -- the cost to consumers. As improvements are made in transportation infrastructure, producers are able to centralize their production operations and site their operations in lower-cost areas, because the uncertainties concerning the movement of goods to customers are reduced.
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From page 3... ...
The U.S. surface freight transportation network includes 4,016,741 miles of highways, 94,942 miles of Class I freight railroad tracks, 46,474 miles of regional and shortline railroad tracks, and 26,000 miles of navigable inland waterways (U.S.
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From the freight perspective, these conflicts often result in barriers to efficient freight transportation operations and can affect the ability to expand operations to accommodate growing volumes. In some instances, conflicts between freight and non-freight uses result in freight activities being labeled as a "nuisance" that causes relocation of freight operations.
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From page 5... ...
Among the major conflicts non-freight interests have with freight-transportation-related services are • Air and water pollution, • Light pollution, • Noise pollution, • Effects of vibration, • Safety issues, • Congestion, and • Environmental justice issues. Some conflicts -- such as noise, light, and vibration -- are common to all of the primary freight modes.
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From page 6... ...
Such barriers typically result in higher production and distribution costs. In this context, examples of potential barriers or interference with freight-transportation-related services include the following: • Speed restrictions; • Limitations on hours of operation; • Height and clearance impacts; • Size and weight limitations; • Corridor design impacts; • Environmental permitting; • Limitations on dredging operations and/or the depositing of dredged material; • Backlog of waterway lock or channel maintenance; Figure S-5.
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From page 7... ...
– State and regional planning agencies do not typically have the land-use planning authority to fill the gap in freight planning. – MPOs are not authorized to conduct transportation planning outside of their designated areas.
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From page 8... ...
The project team's research identified a number of potential solutions to these issues, including • State enabling acts should ideally be amended to require that freight be one of the key elements that states, local jurisdictions, and planning agencies account for in both transportation planning and land-use planning. • Guidance needs to be provided to land-use planners regarding appropriate planning and zoning practices that relate to freight.
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From page 9... ...
Tools for achieving freight-compatible development. Long-Range Planning Zoning and Design Mitigation Education and Outreach State Enabling Acts Regional Visioning Comprehensive Plans Freight Facility Inventories Official Maps Purchase and Advance Acquisition Land Swaps Protective Condemnation Permit Development Access Rights Zoning Standards Buffer Areas Overlay Districts Lot Orientation Property Design Construction Standards Sound Proofing Standards Buffer Areas Noise and Vibration Treatment Track Treatment Yard Re-Alignment Grade Crossing Management Port Gate Management Environmental Measures Zoning Measures Public Outreach and Education Relocation Informal Negotiations Public Involvement Multi-Jurisdictional Agreements Stakeholder Round Tables and Freight/Community Committees
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From page 10... ...
The following are examples of how various stakeholders can use the EnvisionFreight website. For planners and elected officials, EnvisionFreight has been designed to help to • Understand how freight fits into the local, national, and global economy; • Understand the issues that arise from conflicts and how they impact freight-transportationrelated services and a community; and • Consider the kinds of tools, scenarios, communication, and educational outreach that they might want to use to improve freight planning and preservation capacity.
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