Minnesota District Freight Plans - Work Plan

Transcription

1 Minnesota District Freight Plans - Work Plan Overview of Tasks and Deliverables The work will be completed in six tasks. Each of these tasks is described in detail in the following section. The District Freight Plan will outline how the MnDOT District and public- and private-sector freight stakeholders should move forward in freight planning, investment and operations. Task 1-Stakeholder Engagement. This task will build on the District s Manufacturer s Perspective Study. A variety of engagement methods should be utilized to gather feedback. The goals of these interactions will be to continue the dialog with respect to transportation and how MnDOT can assist in helping industries succeed and address these issues. This outreach strategy will not only serve to enhance the understanding of critical issues facing businesses, but it will begin to develop a list of needs that can be prioritized. Task 2-Minnesota Statewide Freight System and Investment Plan Synthesis. The District Freight Plan will connect to the legislation, policies, goals and performance measures contained within the most recent Minnesota Statewide Freight System Plan. Significant effort has already been spent by MnDOT and other state partners to assess available freight data. This task will compile what is already known from the Minnesota Statewide Freight System Plan and Manufacturer s Perspective Study about the District. Task 3- Data Analysis. Additional data analysis may be needed to further identify District specifics in regards freight trends, freight-related industries, economy, system assets, demand, system condition and bottlenecks. Utilization of StreetLight data should be incorporated. Coordination with the Regional Development Commission and Metropolitan Planning Organization on data is encouraged. Task 4-Needs, Issues, Opportunities and Challenges. This task identifies freight system needs, issues and opportunities and categorizes them based on mode, type, geography and other features. This task should also identify strategies for addressing needs and issues and setting priorities. Task 5-Investment. This plan should identify the District s freight investment priorities and create a list of potential projects that benefit freight. Task 6-Project Feasibility. Take top 1-3 projects and begin pre-engineering and scoping work.

2 Technical Approach Task 0 Project Management The objective of this task is to provide overall project management to ensure the District Freight Plan remains on time, on budget, and meets both client and stakeholder needs. A Project Management Plan (PMP) will be developed and presented in a manner that ensures the methodology and goals of this study address a transparent, open, unbiased, data-driven and technically robust analysis of the relevant issues. The PMP will include: Description of staff responsibilities and contact information; Identification of the level of involvement of the MnDOT District in the project, as well as any other services to be provided by MnDOT; Project scope of services and related timeline; Project budget by task; Tentative project management meetings and deliverable dates; and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols. Regular project management meetings will be held to review progress of active work items, discuss new and outstanding issues to be tracked. Task 0 Deliverables: Project Management Plan; Kickoff meeting and regular project management meetings; and Submission of monthly progress reports and invoices. Task 1 Stakeholder Engagement The objective of this task is to develop and execute an outreach and engagement plan to involve freight decision makers and stakeholders in the development of the Plan. Much like the District s Manufacturer s Perspective Study, stakeholders include industry, shippers/receivers, carriers, third-party logistics companies, and others. At the project outset a Communications Plan (CP) will be developed to facilitate an open, proactive process for involving public and stakeholder groups in development of the Plan. The CP will incorporate specific techniques, target audiences/key stakeholders, intended messages, and timing relative to milestones within the greater project schedule. The CP will be a living document that will be revisited and updated at key project milestones. To engage freight decision-makers and stakeholders in the planning process, the following elements should be included: Advisory Committee. The CP will outline the structure and purpose of project committees, notably the formation of a multidisciplinary Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will meet three times throughout the plan development process; early in the study to introduce the Committee to the scope and confirm the Plan goals and approach, and throughout Plan development to provide high-level guidance on issues and strategies as well as feedback on major findings and documents. Technical Team. The Technical Team will consist of various MnDOT representatives, along with some key external partners such as Regional Development Commissions, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), etc. The purpose of the Technical Team is to provide guidance and review of - 2 -

3 documents associated with the development of the Plan, and to facilitate coordination and partnership in implementing future freight projects. The Technical Team will meet 4 times throughout the planning process. Freight Stakeholder List. Freight stakeholders will be critical partners in this planning process. Through previous planning studies and the Freight Office s relationships with organizations a comprehensive freight stakeholder list with be developed. The extensive interview work done as part of the District Manufacturer s Perspective Study will also serve as a source of contact information. Freight Industry Interviews. Additional interviews with freight stakeholders should be conducted to supplement information from the Manufacturers Perspective Study. These should focus on those who did not participate in the study and have unique transportation needs. Online Engagement. Throughout Plan development contacts from the Freight Stakeholder List will be asked to engage in online activities, and to provide feedback on Plan elements. Public Open Houses. After initial data collection is complete and initial ideas are composed, a public open house will be held offering to the public and stakeholders the opportunity to review the status and development of the draft plan and to provide input. A second open house will be conducted after the Plan is complete, and to share final recommendations. Task 1 Deliverables: Communications Plan that outlines the shared outreach approach and activities, and distinguishes between roles for the team and for MnDOT. Prepare for, coordinate and facilitate 3 Advisory Committee meetings. Prepare summary information. Prepare for, coordinate and facilitate 4 Technical Team meetings. Prepare summary information. Comprehensive freight stakeholders list. Interview compilation Design and content development of materials to support MnDOT-led outreach efforts. Task 2 Minnesota Statewide Freight System and Investment Plan Synthesis The District Freight Plan will connect to the legislation, policies, goals and performance measures contained within the most recent Minnesota Statewide Freight System Plan. Significant effort has already been spent by MnDOT and other state partners to assess available freight data. This task will compile what is already known from the Minnesota Statewide Freight System and Investment Plan and Manufacturer s Perspective Study about the District. Task 2 Deliverables: All Task 2 & 3 findings will be consolidated into a single, graphic rich technical document that describes specific of freight in the district. The document will describe the actions MnDOT has taken in the past regarding freight planning and investment and articulate the challenges to be overcome in the future. Task 3 Data Analysis Additional data analysis may be needed to further identify District specifics in regards freight trends, freight-related industries, economy, system assets, demand, system condition and bottlenecks. Utilization of StreetLight data should be incorporated. Coordination with the Regional Development Commission and - 3 -

4 Metropolitan Planning Organization on data is encouraged. Task 3 Deliverables: All Task 2 & 3 findings will be consolidated into a single, graphic rich technical document that describes specific of freight in the district. The document will describe the actions MnDOT has taken in the past regarding freight planning and investment and articulate the challenges to be overcome in the future. Task 4 Needs, Issues, Opportunities & Challenges This task identifies freight system needs, issues and opportunities and categorizes them based on mode, type, geography and other features. This task should also identify strategies for addressing needs and issues and setting priorities. The subtasks outlined will provide the basis for the development of the long-range components of the Statewide Freight System and Investment Plan. The impacts of goods movement will be assessed in terms of a set of multimodal freight performance measures in order to determine gaps, deficiencies, and issues that need to be addressed through development of strategies, projects, and policies in subsequent tasks. Subtasks in this Task include: Task 4 Deliverables: All Task 4 findings will be consolidated into a single, graphic rich technical document that describes the freight system needs, issues, and opportunities in the District. Task 5 Implementation Plan This plan should identify the District s freight investment priorities and create a list of potential projects that benefit freight. Task 5 Deliverables: All Task 5 findings will be consolidated into a single, graphic rich technical document that articulates the District s freight investment priorities. A list of potential projects should be included. Task 6 Project Feasibility Take top 1-3 projects and begin pre-engineering and scoping work. Task 6 Deliverables: Pre-engineering and scoping documents - 4 -

5 Anticipated Timeline Task July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun