Category: MAFC

MAFC News Research

Michigan, Iowa and Ohio Receive accolades from ATRI for their High-Ranking Freight Plans

Feb 27, 2018 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments , , , , ,

Three MAFC member states’ freight plans scored among the best in a recently release report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), “Identifying State Freight Plan Best Practices.” Freight plans from Iowa, Michigan and Ohio were among a dozen freight plans selected by ATRI as exemplary in terms of planning, assessment, and implementation practices.

The goal of this report was to provide a baseline for freight plans as well as future guidance on best practices since these freight plans will need to be updated every five years in accordance with the FAST Act.

According to the report’s authors, “A well-designed freight plan allows a state or region to accurately understand the movement of goods within the larger geographic and economic framework, and speculate on future trends…Freight plans also provide an understanding of how safe, efficient, and productive freight systems benefit local and state economies and help meet local, regional, and national goals for safety and productivity.”

ATRI received nominations for 26 states. Freight plans were evaluated on 10 criteria coming out of both the FAST Act and MAP-21 freight plan requirements.

Each of the high-scoring freight plans provide good examples of specific best practices. Iowa’s plan has an excellent multi-modal network analysis. Michigan’s plan was commended for providing a step-by-step protocol for replicating its project list development data analysis, allowing others interested in replicating the quantitative analysis to move from the initial data extraction all the way to exporting tier-sorted projects. And, Ohio’s freight plan includes a narrative discussion of how freight impacts the quality of life for its citizens, framing freight investment as an investment in prosperity and quality of life for Ohio residents.

For access to the full report, please visit TruckingResearch.org.

The development of Freight planning has been reliant on the sharing of knowledge and practices across the states.  Our region is fortunate to have such expertise to develop these freight planning approaches, and then share them across the region. For an earlier assessment of state freight planning across the MAASTO states, see the MAFC report: From the Ground Up – Aligning state freight plans.

MAFC News

Minnesota DOT State Wide Freight Plan Reviewed

Jan 2, 2018 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments ,

MAFC member, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has received confirmation from the FHWA on their updated Statewide Freight System Plan dated November, 2017. This plan aligns with Minnesota GO and the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan, which establish Minnesota’s overall vision for transportation. In addition, the plan meets the freight planning requirements of the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21, transportation legislation and aligns with the provisions of the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act.

The plan includes a snapshot of Minnesota’s current freight system as well as a description of the state’s economy, relevant trends, and current and future issues around freight. It also includes an action agenda which outlines how the system can keep pace with the significant growth in freight tonnage expected by 2040.

One of multiple transportation plans in support of the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan and the Minnesota GO vision for transportation in the state, this plan was developed with the help of the public-private Minnesota Freight Advisory Committee.

The plan and a video explaining the plan development are online at the MnDOT website.

MAFC

Kentucky Freight Plan Receives Approval

Dec 11, 2017 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments , ,

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet received approval of the Kentucky Freight Plan on December 4, 2017.

The Kentucky Freight Plan is a supplement to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s 2014 Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan.  The Freight Plan was developed upon the recommendations of the federal transportation bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Enacted in 2012, MAP-21 encouraged each state to develop a comprehensive statewide freight plan for guiding state freight transportation investments.

For more information about this plan, visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet website.

CFIRE Funding Highway MAFC Maritime Research

MAFC Releases Report Looking at the Impact of Upper Mississippi River Lock and Dam Shutdowns on State Highway Infrastructure

Oct 31, 2017 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments , , , ,

The Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC) has released a report on the impact lock and dam closures along the Upper Mississippi River would have on the parallel highways based on the increased truck numbers required to move displaced agricultural products.

The Mississippi River is a critical corridor for transportation of agricultural products and, in turn, is critical to the economies of the states that utilize the river to transport these trade goods. Five of the MAFC region’s states are dependent on the Upper Mississippi River to move the majority of their agricultural products.

Movement through the Upper Mississippi is facilitated through locks and dams, all of which were constructed between the 1930’s and late 1950’s. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) estimates that there are over $1 billion in backlogged maintenance costs for these structures. Given the age and maintenance backlog, a failure at any of these facilities, especially the southernmost, would divert agricultural products to truck or rail.

The report assesses the total impact of such closures and then demonstrates how the cost the closures, or improvements designed to mitigate their impact on the highway side, compare with the cost of improving Upper Mississippi River control structures.

Download the Report.

MAFC News

Iowa Freight Plan is Now FAST Act Compliant

Aug 10, 2017 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments

Iowa DOT is the fifth state in the nation to have their FAST Act compliant State Freight Plan accepted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Iowa DOT’s original, MAP-21 compliant plan was amended for FAST Act and submitted to the FHWA in June. It was reviewed and accepted as including all required elements effective July 21, 2017.

Created with the input of interested stakeholders, particularly Iowa’s Freight Advisory Council (FAC), the freight plan is designed to connect and optimize numerous freight planning initiatives being conducted by the Mid-America Freight Coalition member. Additionally, it will guide the department’s investment decisions for maintaining and improving the state’s freight transportation system.

For more information about this plan, visit the Iowa DOT website

MAFC News Research

MAFC Releases Truck Parking White Paper

Mar 16, 2017 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments ,

A new white paper from the Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC) demonstrates strategies that can help meet the growing demand for truck parking.
In many cities, demand for truck parking spaces exceeds supply. These shortages jeopardize public safety when truckers resort to parking on highway ramps and shoulders, parking in unsecure areas, or violating rules around maximum hours of service.

The white paper examines the potential value of vacant urban parcels of land for truck parking. MAFC researchers established a methodology to identify potential parcels and examine whether they are suitable for parking. In the cities studied, the authors found that affordable, accessible parcels are available.

The paper demonstrates that, when used in conjunction with other policies, adaption of urban sites could help reduce the frequency and severity of truck parking shortages.

The idea for the research leading up to this white paper stems from the Truck Parking Information and Management System (TPIMS) project spearheaded by the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO). In response to concerns around truck parking, eight states – Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin – have joined together in developing a multi-state TPIMS. The project is funded through a $25 million TIGER grant and state funds.

The white paper can be downloaded from the MAFC website here.

MAFC Maritime Outreach Research

Perry Testifies in Support of Continued Funding for HAP

Dec 16, 2016 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments , , ,
MAFC Program Administrator, Ernest Perry, PhD
MAFC Program Administrator, Ernest Perry, PhD

MAFC Program Administrator, Ernest Perry, PhD, testified last week to members of the Assembly Transportation Committee for the State of Wisconsin in support of continued funding for the Harbor Assistance Program (HAP). In his statement, Perry emphasized a multiagency effort that has been taking place for over three years to to increase the freight and economic activity at Wisconsin ports. Wisconsin ports are responsible for the health of a large part of the state’s economy and will have an increasingly important role in the future. The support provided by HAP funds has been significant in providing tangible benefits to the state’s port infrastructure and will continue to be a much needed asset to ensure the sustainability of this important system moving forward.

Perry’s complete statement can be downloaded here.

MAFC News Research

MAFC Completes Survey Regarding Designation of Critical Rural and Critical Urban Freight Corridors

Oct 26, 2016 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments , , , ,

As directed by the FAST act, states and, in certain cases, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, are responsible for designating public roads as Critical Rural Freight Corridors (CRFCs) and Critical Urban Freight Corridors (CUFCs). The MAFC has completed a survey of member states for this purpose and continues to work with states to identify and share the best approaches for identifying CRFCs and CUFCs and  other components of state and regional freight networks. The survey data is available for download here.

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) directed the FHWA Administrator to establish a National Highway Freight Network to strategically direct Federal resources and policies toward improved performance of highway portions of the U.S. freight transportation system. Critical Rural Freight Corridors (CRFCs) are public roads not in urbanized areas that provide access and connection to the Primary Highway Freight System and the Interstate with other important ports, public transportation facilities, or other intermodal freight facilities. Critical Urban Freight Corridors (CUFCs) are public roads in urbanized areas which provide access and connection to these same facilities.

MAFC Survey Results Regarding State designation of Critical Rural and Critical Urban Freight Corridors

Conferences MAFC News

Keynote Presentation Highlights Success of the Freight Plan Alignment Project

Aug 2, 2016 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments ,
MAFC Program Administrator, Ernest Perry, PhD gave the keynote at the Ohio Planning Conference in July 2016.

States responsible for a significant portion of the nation’s freight traffic generated many benefits when they worked together to meet the national freight planning requirements of the FAST Act.

In his keynote address at the Ohio Planning Conference, Ernest Perry, PhD, discussed how Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC) states are sharing best practices, working to align efforts, and provide regional and national leadership in collaborative freight development. In his morning address on July 27 in Columbus, Ohio, Perry, MAFC Program Administrator and Facilitator, spoke about the work that the coalition does to support its members as they pursue local, state and national goals and, most recently, to create freight plans for their states.

The MAFC Freight Plan Alignment Project was initiated to create a catalog of the freight planning practices, enabling each state to look across the border and see how their peers plan for freight and create freight networks. This effort made visible all of the processes, data, and organization surrounding freight planning efforts in departments of transportation across the MAASTO region. The final report is now available for download here.

About the Conference:

The Ohio Planning Conference gives transportation planners from across the state an opportunity to discuss emerging trends and new tools for effective transportation planning. This year’s conference theme, “Transport Ohio’s Future,” conveyed the critical role that Ohio’s transportation system plays in the state’s future.

The presentation, “FAST and Furious: A look at MAASTO States Freight Plan Development,” can be downloaded in the Resources section of this website.

MAFC News

Iowa State Freight Plan Finalized

Aug 1, 2016 by Mid-America Freight Coalition 0 Comments , ,

Last week, Mid-America Freight Coalition member, Iowa DOT, released Iowa’s first dedicated state freight plan.

Created with the input of interested stakeholders, particularly Iowa’s Freight Advisory Council (FAC), the freight plan is designed to connect and optimize numerous freight planning initiatives being conducted by the Iowa DOT.

Additionally, it will guide the department’s investment decisions for maintaining and improving the state’s freight transportation system.

For more information about this plan, visit the Iowa DOT website or read the press release.