BHJ Freight Study. Ohio Conference on Freight

Transcription

1 BHJ Freight Study presented to Ohio Conference on Freight presented by Mike Paprocki, Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission Barb Sloan, Cambridge Systematics, Inc. September 20, 2011

2 Agenda Project Overview Inventory and Profile Summary Freight-Related Issues and Opportunities Recommendations / Implementation Plan Next Steps 1

3 BHJ Freight Study Overview Project Scope - Task 1 Inventory and Profile - Task 2 Identify Assets, Needs & Opportunities - Task 3 Identify and Evaluate Recommendations - Task 4 - Actionable Plan of Recommendations 2

4 Inventory & Profile Infrastructure Assets Highway East-West: US 22, US 30 North-South: WV SR 2, OH SR 7 Existing Bridge Crossings: Newell Toll, Jennings Randolph, Veterans Memorial, Market Street, Ft. Steuben (not in use) Water New Cumberland Lock & Dam Pike Island Lock & Dam 52 River Terminals accessible by BHJ river system, all but 3 are privately owned Railroad 4 rail providers - Norfolk Southern (NS), Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (W&LE), Columbus & Ohio River Railroad (C&OR), and Ohio-Rail Corporation Intermodal - 15 river ports have direct rail access Air Pittsburgh International is the local air cargo connection 3

5 4 Study Area Infrastructure

6 Freight Generators Task 1 Inventory & Profile Harris InfoSource Database Contains 1,850 companies with 7+ employees 620 records representing possible major freight producers Number of Jobs 5

7 Stakeholder Involvement Included Online Survey, Stakeholder Interviews, and the Freight Study Steering Committee Findings were Categorized into the Following Areas: Freight-Generating Industries Commodities Shipped Freight Movement Issues by Mode (highway, rail, air, water) Land Use Issues and Regulations Business Attraction Workforce Issues Funding Results Incorporated into Issues, Opportunities and Recommendations of Technical Memorandum #2 6

8 7 Freight Movement in the BHJ Region

9 Existing and Future Freight Mode by Weight Freight Flows by Weight (2007) Freight Flows by Weight (2040) 8

10 Existing and Future Study Area Commodities by Weight Study Area Commodities by Tons (2007) Coal Gravel 26% 29% Cereal grains Waste/scrap Coal n.e.c. 3% 3% 3% 4% 4% 5% 5% 7% 11% Base metals Nonmetal min. prods. Logs Gasoline Other foodstuffs All Other Study Area Commodities by Tons (2040) 30% 18% Coal Gravel Cereal grains Waste/scrap Nonmetal min. prods. 16% Chemical prods. Other foodstuffs 3% Logs 3% 3% 4% 4% 4% 6% 9% Nonmetallic minerals Coal n.e.c. All Other 9

11 10 Freight Related Issues and Opportunities

12 Issues and Opportunities Infrastructure Highway Rail Water Air Land Use Policy 11

13 Highway Issues and Opportunities Roadway Condition Roadway Capacity East-West Connectivity Truck Parking 12

14 Roadway Level of Service (2008 vs. 2030) Source: BHJ MPC Source: BHJ MPC 13

15 Rail Issues and Opportunities Funding for Rail Infrastructure Improvements Railroad Abandonments Changing Commodity Mix Opportunities for Additional Rail Service 14

16 Waterborne Freight Issues and Opportunities Waterborne Freight Capacity Waterborne Freight Commodities Infrastructure Improvements 15

17 Air Freight Issues and Opportunities Proximity of Cargo Airports to Study Area 16 BHJ Region Aviation Infrastructure

18 Land Use Issues and Opportunities Available Land and Sites for Development Site Selection Factors 17

19 Available Land and Sites for Development 18 Source: BHJ MPC, Progress Alliance, BDC of Northern Panhandle

20 Policy Issues and Opportunities Regional / Bi-State Coordination Funding Economic Development Demographic Issues Jobs Initiative 19

21 The BHJ Region s Demographic Trends Projected Population County Brooke 24,602 24,431 24,268 24,061 Hancock 31,971 30,965 29,961 28,223 Jefferson 67,523 64,381 61,236 55,992 BHJ Total 124, , , ,276 Projected Workers County Brooke 10,445 10,327 10,194 10,016 Hancock 14,125 13,643 13,152 12,318 Jefferson 26,749 25,471 24,189 22,046 BHJ Total 51,319 49,441 47,535 44,380 20

22 To Summarize. Through its longstanding major industrial base, the BHJ region has significant assets: A well-developed multimodal transportation system Availability of industrial sites Skilled workforce Access to the most populous region of the U.S. 21

23 Recommendations / Implementation Plan Infrastructure Highway Rail Water Air Land Use Policy 22

24 Recommendations / Implementation Plan Each of the 16 Recommendations Included: Action Items Cost Range (Low, Medium, High) Priority (Low, Medium, High) Timeframe Short-term: 0-2 years Mid-term: 3-5 years Long-term: > 5 years Lead Agency(ies) 23

25 High Priority Recommendations #6 Identify investment options that encourage expanded use of rail mode. Action Items: Pursue opportunities to expand intermodal linkages between rail and other modes. Identify infrastructure investments for increasing competitiveness of rail mode. Host a forum to promote freight rail connectivity among regional railroad operators; explore opportunities for improved coordination of terminal railroad operations. Explore opportunities to recapture business on the Ohi-Rail s Piney Fork Line between Minerva and Amsterdam, OH, and reuse of the Weirton Rail Yard. Explore funding sources for rail infrastructure enhancements. Timeframe Short-term Priority High Lead Agencies Railroads, ORDC, WVSRA 24

26 High Priority Recommendations #7 Explore opportunities to enhance intermodal connectivity between rail/water and highway/water modes. Action Items: Pursue opportunities to expand intermodal linkages between water and other modes. Explore the establishment of a Bi-State port Authority to oversee the Ohio River ports in the 3-county region, and work with private sector partners to expand intermodal opportunities. Work with the West Virginia Public Port Authority and the Ohio Port Authority Council in encouraging the development of intermodal opportunities along the region s river frontage. Timeframe Short-term Priority High Lead Agencies BHJ, ODOT, WVDOT, Port Authorities 25

27 High Priority Recommendations #10 Develop regional marketing strategy to promote the region s freight-related assets to potential freightdependent industries. Action Items: Market the region s rail infrastructure and excess rail capacity to rail dependent industries. Market the region s accessibility to the Ohio River by identifying available sites along the river and the excess capacity of river transportation through the study area. Market the region s proximity to major markets in the Midwest and East. Market the region s own Jefferson County Airpark, as well as the area s proximity to Pittsburgh International Airport (approximately 30 miles). 26

28 High Priority Recommendations Recommendation #10 Action Items (cont d): Take advantage of the region s assets that correspond to the most highly rated site selection factors for industrial development (labor costs, highway accessibility, tax exemptions, energy availability and cost, and corporate tax rate, all of which bode well for the study region). Through partner agencies, implement projects and operations strategies that address the freight infrastructure and operations needs and deficiencies for growing and strong industries in the BHJ region to facilitate industrial retention and expansion. Timeframe Short- to Mid-term Priority High Lead Agencies BHJ, Economic Development Groups 27

29 High Priority Recommendations #12 Identify innovative strategies to better match new and available funds with freight system needs. Action Items: On a case-by-case basis, match freight project needs with current funding options and others that may become available through upcoming new Federal Transportation Bill. Timeframe Short-term Priority High Lead Agencies Regional, State and Federal Partners 28

30 High Priority Recommendations #13 Establish a governance structure, such as a Bi- State Port Authority, to identify issues, guide investments and advocate on behalf of the region through public outreach and education, promoting the BHJ region s economy and protecting the public interest. Action Items: Explore legislative requirements for creating a regional bi-state freight governance structure for the 3-county BHJ region. Define responsibilities of the governance structure. Identify board member representation. Form a committee to work with legislators to garner support for creating the Bi-State Port Authority, providing assistance with drafting proposed legislation. Timeframe Mid-term Priority High Lead Agencies BHJ Economic Development Groups, Port Authorities 29

31 Next Steps Implementation / Make Freight Mobility in the BHJ Region an Action Plan Keep the Momentum Going!! Continue the BHJ Freight Study Steering Committee as a self-sustaining group, with regularly scheduled meetings. Expand this group to include the identified lead agencies for the 16 study recommendations. Monitor progress on implementing the 16 study recommendations. Re-assess the region s freight-related goals on a regular basis and monitor the region s success in attaining those goals. Use the past as an opportunity to shape the future. 30