DRAFT
As directed by MAP-21, national performance goals related to freight movement include congestion reduction, system reliability, and freight-related economic vitality. Specific measures as defined in the act currently include only interstate freight movement.
In response, AASHTO recently developed and recommended that the USDOT adopt two truck freight performance measures for the interstate system (1), as directed in MAP-21 Section 1203, 150(c)(6):
a. Annual Hours of Truck Delay (AHTD): Travel time above the congestion threshold in units of vehicle-hours for trucks on the Interstate Highway System.
b. Truck Reliability Index (RI80): The Reliability Index is defined as the ratio of the total truck travel time needed to ensure on-time arrival to the agency-determined threshold travel time.
According to USDOT personnel, data for freight interstate performance measures will be provided to state DOTs for the entire National Highway System. The data will be based on cell phone coverage of cars and ATRI GPS truck data. This system replaces the previous truck-collected, GPS-based system: Freight Performance Measures (FPMweb)(2).
State DOTs will be required to report on interstate performance by October 1, 2016. The MAFC will request use of the data from the ten MAASTO states and calculate truck delay and truck reliability on corridors in the MAFC region, and to the extent possible, provide comparison with other national-level routes.
MAP-21 does not require freight performance measures related to other modes or economic development or environmental related measures. However, performance management approach to transportation system management is here to stay and is on an evolutionary trajectory. The later stages of freight-related performance management can be expected to integrate all modes, economic development, and a variety of other measures. In NCFRP-10: Performance Measures for Freight Transportation, the authors identified more than 360 potential freight performance measures (2).
The AASHTO freight working group is currently developing an agenda and recommendations for future steps in the freight policy and programs for the next transportation reauthorization process. Their draft recommendations oppose further additions to existing performance measures until states mature in their use of the current proposed approach. They also oppose performance measures as a means of allocating or awarding federal funding.
References
- Ivanov, Barbara (2013). Performance Measures Driving State Freight Planning.
- Freight Performance Measures. FPMWeb.
- NCFRP Report 10: Performance Measures for Freight Transportation.