Freight Mobility Strategic Investment BoardDecember 6th, 2013

Ashley Probart

Deputy DirectorFreight Mobility Strategic Investment Board

Primary Freight Network Designation

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Freight in America

• 985,000 miles of Federal-aid highways;• 141,000 miles of railroads;• 11,000 miles of inland waterways; and• 1.6 million miles of pipelines.• In addition:– 19,000 airports-540 serving commercial operations;– 5,000 coastal, Great Lakes, and inland waterway facilities

moving cargo

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National Freight Network

The Interstate System is the National Freight Network (@47,000 miles)

27,000 miles will be designated as the Primary Freight Network (PFN)

3,000 additional miles will be added to include segments critical to the future of moving goods

State-designation of critical rural freight corridors (CRFC)(submitted by State DOT after PFN is complete)

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Primary Freight Network Factors

1. Origin and destination of freight movement in the United States;

2. Total freight tonnage and value of freight moved on highways;3. Percentage of annual average daily truck traffic in the annual

average daily traffic on principal arterials4. Annual average daily truck traffic on principal arterials; 5. Land and maritime ports of entry;6. Access to energy exploration, development, installation, or

production areas;7. Population centers; and8. Network Connectivity.

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Outcome

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Outcome

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Outcome-27,000 miles

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Outcome-41,000 miles

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Outcome-41,000 miles(Continued)

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National Timeline

• Primary Freight Network Draft Designation:– November 2013 – Comments Due December 19, 2013, January 17, 2014

• Compilation of State-designated Critical Rural Freight Corridors routes- Late 2013-Early 2014

• Release of the initial designation of the full National Freight Network-2014– Including primary freight network;– Rest of the Interstate system; and– Critical rural freight corridors

• Congress begins work on next MAP 21 – Summer 2013

• Current MAP 21 expires - September 30, 2014

• National Freight Strategic Plan- October 2015

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Next Steps/Action

Comment period has been extended to January 17, 2014.

Specifically, FHWA is seeking comments on the following:• Specific route deletions, additions, or modifications to the

draft initial designation of the highway PFN contained in this notice;

• The methodology for achieving a 27,000-mile final designation;• How the NFN and its components could be used by freight

stakeholders in the future; • How the NFN may fit into a multimodal National Freight

System; and • Suggestions for an urban-area route designation process.

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Next Steps/ActionDraft Ideas

Comment period has been extended to January 17, 2014.

Specifically, FHWA is seeking comments on the following:• Specific route deletions, additions, or modifications to the draft initial

designation of the highway PFN contained in this notice; – Use US Census definition of Urbanized areas vs. definition of 200,000 or

more– Include strategic military bases– Change annual average daily truck traffic (AADTT) threshold to capture the

Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver– Allow states/MPOs to designate and make recommendations on Critical

Rural Freight Corridors, additional miles • The methodology for achieving a 27,000-mile final designation;

– Recommend an AADT that reflects the system…– Allow states to identify intermodal facilities-Federal data is too flawed

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Next Steps/ActionDraft Ideas

Comment period has been extended to January 17, 2014. • How the NFN and its components could be used by freight stakeholders in

the future; – Current proposal is too fragmented to be useful– Make changes recommended above– Create certainty

• Planning Dedicated and sustained new funding Project Delivery

• How the NFN may fit into a multimodal National Freight System; and – Ensure road network (once revised) is integrated with rest of multi-modal

system• Suggestions for an urban-area route designation process.

– State and MPOs designate Critical Urban Freight Corridors based on economic significance• Major intermodal facilities• Significant freight intensive land uses for manufacturing and warehouse industrial

lands• Strategic military installations/facilities