Slide 1:

US DOT CONFERENCE, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, APRIL 29, 2001

ELEVATING & FUNDING FREIGHT SOLUTIONS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA

DONALD S. SHANIS, PH.D., DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Slide 2:

WHAT IS DVRPC?
Metropolitan Planning Organization for the nine-county Philadelphia region
Created in 1965 by a compact between Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Provides for orderly growth and development of the region
Addresses all facets of transportation, from freight to commuter, aviation, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian needs

Slide 3:

Thesis
MPO freight planning should target…
Work Program
Long Range Plan
TIP
Quick Fix Solutions
State Programs
Private Sector
…as a means of implementing projects that facilitate goods movement and foster economic development.

Slide 4:

THE DELAWARE VALLEY IN AN INTER-REGIONAL CONTEXT

Slide 5:

THE DVRPC REGION

Slide 6:

SPECTRUM OF FREIGHT PROJECTS
National Highway System improvements
National Highway System connectors
Rail freight improvements
Economic development initiatives
Freight-friendly additions to other projects

Slide 7:

FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Delaware Valley Goods Movement Task Force created in 1992
Attracts members from all sectors of the local freight community
Provides input on Long Range Plan, TIP, and Work Program
Supported by three subcommittees chaired by industry professionals

Slide 8:

GOODS MOVEMENT TASK FORCE PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE
Work group seeks to identify projects and match with funding sources
Provides industry perspective on individual technical studies
Prepares testimony on high priority projects and policies
Notified of all proposed TIP amendments

Slide 9:

FREIGHT SPECIFIC STUDIES
Rail Freight Plan
BTS 1997 Commodity Flow Survey
Heavy Rail Car study
CSX Grade Crossing study

Slide 10:

TRAFFIC MONITORING AND FORECASTING ACTIVITIES
2,500 traffic counts per year
Travel model simulates 85% of traffic
Current update of truck component of travel simulation using trip diaries
Population and employment forecasts for 353 MCD’s
Traffic forecasts help identify major highway expansions

Slide 11:

CONGESTION Management

Keyed to centers and corridors
Emphasis on providing travel options
Emergence of the importance of operations and incident management
Conducted National Incident Management Coalition conference with ATA in 2000
Strong momentum with ITS architecture and technologies

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NHS CONNECTORS
Advocacy for “orphan” roads with strategic logistics importance
Centerpiece of DVRPC’s IMS initiative
Fundamental criterion of 100 trucks per day by direction
Methodology similar to FHWA Condition and Investment Study
Emphasis on suitability for commercial vehicle operations

Slide 13:

NTLONG RANGE PLAN EXCERPTS
Vision
By 2025, economic development will be advanced through transportation.
Policies
Identify and build improvements which facilitate the flow of goods.
Projects
New interchange, PA Turnpike and I-95
Studies
Agile Port maritime and rail improvements

Slide 14:

TIP EXCERPTS
CSX Trenton Line clearance project
Norfolk Southern highway access
project
Chester City road widening
Southern New Jersey Light Rail Line
I-95/Philadelphia International Airport ramp revisions

Slide 15:

FREIGHT FORWARD
Umbrella maintenance program
For quick fix projects like directional signs and potholes
No programming needed
Responds to input from actual operators
Results oriented
Empowers the freight community

Slide 16:

FUNDING SOURCES
NHS
CMAQ
State Rail Freight Programs
Congressional Earmarks
Private Sector
Bottom Line: All available sources!

Slide 17:

KEYS TO SUCCESS
Wage the battle on all fronts.
Pay attention to the whole transportation system.
Teach the freight community about the MPO pressure points.
Produce relevant technical products.
Publicize freight projects and committee.
Engage the industry in an amicable forum.

Slide 18:

www.dvrpc.org