UPWP FREIGHT PLANNING WORK TASK

Transcription

1 UPWP FEIGHT PLANNING WOK TASK The CMMPO Endorsed 2009 UPWP document lists all planning activities that the staff will attempt to carry out during the FY 2009 program year. The text of the Freight Planning work task describes some of the materials included in this Progress eport document. Other materials that have been included in the Progress eport simply evolved as staff continued ongoing work in the area of freight and passenger movement in the region. Any delayed work items will be addressed in the 2010 UPWP and covered in the 2010 Freight Planning Progress eport document. In particular, we note: In response to identified needs in the intermodal transportation system, Freight Planning participants will continue to recommend statewide, regional and location specific strategies to improve the NHS Connectors which provide access to major intermodal facilities. These strategies, ranging from operational improvements to major capital investment, will address existing conditions and, if applicable, projected future year conditions. This document will begin by addressing the current condition and future possibilities for local connectors. Additionally: An Overview of the System Please refer to Figure 1 shown on the following page that provides an overview of the multimodal transportation network that accommodates the movement of freight both within and through the planning region. The graphic was developed as part of the agency s ongoing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS work efforts. It is the intent of the region s Freight Planning program to continue to educate and inform decision makers, stakeholders, interested parties and the general public about the importance of multimodal goods movement. This encompasses vital publically maintained highways including National Highway System (NHS Connectors as well as privately owned and operated intermodal freight transload facilities. These subjects, and a range of others, are addressed within. 4

2 Source: Data provided by massbroadband.org. Central Massachusetts egional Planning Commission (CMPC, EOT/MHD and the ExecutiveOffice of Environmental Affairs/MassGIS 32 (EOEA/MassGIS Information depicted on this map is for planning WAWICK purposes only. This information is not adequate for OYALSTON legal boundarydefinition, regulatory interpretation, WINCHENDON or parcel-level analysis. Use caution intrepreting positional accuracy. PAN Produced by the Central Massachusetts OANGE egional Planning Commission (CMPC 2 Washington Sq. Union Station, 68 Worcester, MA September AYE A NAM A OAKHAM X CS AUBUN SOUTHBOOUGH S X140 North Grafton Yard 148 Q 90 HOPKINTON MILLBUY SUTTON CHALTON OXFOD BIMFIELD STUBIDGE 495 UPTON HOLLISTON MILFOD 146 NOTHBIDGE 19 MONSON GAFTON P& W ASHLAND WESTBOOUGH SHEWSBUY 20 EAST BOOKFIELD BOOKFIELD WAEN C SX 12 LEICESTE NOTHBOOUGH U G& 122 SPENCE PALME o 122A C 148 HUDSON MALBOOUGH 290 WOCESTE NOTH BOOKFIELD AM 190 WEST BOOKFIELD BOYLSTON PAXTON 67 HOLDEN 56 MC BELIN 148 NEW BAINTEE STOW WEST BOYLSTON 67 MC BOLTON 122 UTLAND CS X CLINTON P&W X CS ACTON 110 CSX BAE CS 31 AN X /P SX STELING BOXBOOUGH LANCASTE 190 C PINCETON 62 9 LITTLETON 2 LEOMINSTE HAVAD WAE 111 SHILEY P WESTMINSTE WESTFOD Q 13 HUBBADSTON 9 GOTON LUNENBUG East Fitchburg Yard PETESHAM Q DUNSTABLE TYNGSBOOUGH 13 FITCHBUG HADWICK State oute Miles 10 TEMPLETON PHILLIPSTON NEW SALEM U.S. oute 225 2A Interstate Freight ail Yard Candidate ITS oute PEPPEELL TOWNSEND Vital Links 119 NHS oads 101 GADNE Gardner Yard ASHBY 0 Freight ail egional Airport ITS Candidate Xing (9 ASHBUNHAM 140 AM ATHOL M MA A SS SS A AC CH HU U SS EE TT TT SS o N N EE W W H HA AM M PP SS H H II EE HOPEDALE MENDON 395 WALES HOLLAND 84 SOUTHBIDGE DUDLEY 131 WEBSTE Q DOUGLAS UXBIDGE BLACKSTONE MILLVILLE H HO OD D EE II SS LL A AN ND D 84 Figure 1 Major Intermodal Facilities in the Central Massachusetts egion Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS Initiative 5 BELLINGHAM 146

3 Task Title: Freight Planning eference: #3.7 Description The mission of Freight Planning in the Commonwealth is to improve intermodal transportation system performance, that is, to increase the opportunities to move freight and interregional passengers at less cost and with fewer impediments, by influencing the decisions that are made regarding public policies and transportation investments. Freight Planning continues to provide more effective inputs to the transportation planning process through its continued development, evaluation and recommendation of strategies to enhance system performance. This shall be done in the interest of the public at large by balancing intermodal cost and operating efficiencies with the potential effects of proposed decisions. Initially developed as an Intermodal Management System (IMS by EOT in cooperation with the PAs, MassPort, and the MAC, Freight Planning has emerged as both a regional and statewide effort. The major intermodal freight facilities connected to the National Highway System (NHS, emphasized under SAFETEA-LU, are the primary focus of Freight Planning. This undertaking also includes, to a lesser extent, other intermodal activity and the interregional component of passenger intermodal activity. The three main goals of Freight Planning in the Commonwealth are as follows: 1. Improve the performance of freight and interregional passenger intermodal corridors and terminals. 2. Coordinate and cooperate with affected constituencies, both decision makers and stakeholders, from the public and private sectors. 3. Assist in identifying and considering the economic, social, environmental, energy, safety and external impacts of potential decisions as appropriate. Carried out by the referenced state agencies and the PAs, Freight Planning is an ongoing process of system evaluation, supported with limited data collection, which is utilized to provide technical support in the development of both the regional and statewide TIP and TP documents. The CMMPO, the MPO Advisory Committee, and the CMPC will continue to have input into the ongoing refinement and operation of this planning program. EOT, the PAs and other agencies will continue using regional travel demand models, vehicle classification counts and other methods to identify both the existing and future needs of the intermodal transportation system as well as to suggest/evaluate strategies and projects to meet these needs. In most instances, it is recognized that the EOT will need to take a lead role. When the region s intermodal facilities inventory was developed within the parameters of the system description framework, available data was utilized where possible. As 6

4 previously stated by EOT-OTP, Freight Planning and the ongoing CMP will continue to use a number of common performance measures. Intermodal freight and passenger data has been available from the PAs, various state agencies and FHWA s Freight Analysis Framework (FAF. New data collection efforts, if necessary, are anticipated to be fairly limited. This may include purchasing already available data from vendors or acquiring information through the proactive Public Outreach Program. The deployment of ATs at key locations along the region s NHS Connectors is an example of an ongoing data collection task. (SAFETEA-LU guidance has continued prior emphasis on the nation s NHS Connectors. It is also fully realized that some freight intermodal requirements can only be met with data from the private sector. In response to identified needs in the intermodal transportation system, Freight Planning participants will continue to recommend statewide, regional and location-specific strategies to improve the NHS Connectors which provide access to major intermodal facilities. These strategies, ranging from operational improvements to major capital investment, will address existing conditions and, if applicable, projected future year conditions. Potential improvement projects, which may address such issues as roadway condition and capacity, physical restrictions and safety, would need to be programmed in the CMMPO TIP document. Further, the Commonwealth also has the potential to engage in Public/Private- Partnerships to fund improvements to the freight system, a topic examined in the new underway update of the state s railroad and freight plans. The CMMPO, in order to follow the intent of the Freight Planning provisions of SAFETEA-LU, is required to provide the opportunity for input from both the communities as well as all pertinent stakeholders. The CMPC staff has maintained contacts with various modal providers in the railroad, trucking and intermodal industries. In consideration of current economic conditions, it is also necessary for the CMMPO, decision makers and stakeholders to understand the issues and needs concerning freight mobility when formulating regional transportation policy. Previous Work 1993 egional Transportation Plan: egional trucking activities survey completed in cooperation with the ATA Foundation. Participation on former IMS Technical Team, Various memoranda prepared for the Freight Planning Technical Team, much of which was incorporated into the original statewide IMS Work Plan. Work included initial identification of performance measures for systems, corridors, and facilities. A ranked, categorized inventory of the region s freight & passenger terminal facilities for FHWA. Further inventory work completed within the established parameters of the system description framework. 7

5 Identification of NHS Connectors to major intermodal terminals, egional Transportation Plan: Includes results of national ATA Survey of MPOs, recommends traffic volume and axle counts on the region s NHS Connectors. Compilation of Intermodal Facilities Inventory Data Sheets. Participation on the EOTC/MFAC Identification and Prioritization of Statewide Freight Issues study, Compilation of summary materials for FHWA s Intermodal Connectors Condition and Investment Study, & 2003 egional Transportation Plans: Includes listing of major intermodal terminals and excerpts from the Intermodal Connectors Condition and Investment Study. Overview presentation of CMMPO TP Freight Elements to the Boston MPO s egional Transportation Advisory Council s (TAC Freight Committee, June (Staff started to regularly attend meetings of the Freight Committee in Staff research concerning MBTA Commuter ail service to Worcester, the call for increased service frequency along the Worcester Line, as well as other passenger rail initiatives in the state and the greater region. Compilation of informational guide entitled Passenger ail in the Central Massachusetts egion: News, Events & Studies, egional Transportation Plan: Updated descriptions of region s established NHS Connectors as well as potential roadways to be considered for future NHS designation. The continuing NHS Connector monitoring effort includes the collection of daily traffic volumes and vehicle classification counts, Ongoing Since 2008, staff has convened a egional ail Task Force consisting of participants from a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise. A record of the Task Force proceedings has been maintained and included in a freight planning progress report document. Several PowerPoint presentations have been compiled and refined aimed at informing and educating decision makers & stakeholders, concerning both freight and passenger rail operations, challenges and needs in the greater region. Notably, a slide show was developed and customized for the upstate New York 8

6 Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE meeting in Ithaca, NY, held in October GIS generated maps of the MBTA Commuter ail system serving the region produced at the request of the Worcester city manager s office to be used at the city s Passenger ail Summit, May Staff hosted a meeting of the National Corridors Initiative (NCI Alpha Committee for the potential formation of a New England Northeast Infrastructure Authority, June Staff hosts outreach meetings for development of Massachusetts ail and Freight Plan documents, November 2008, February 2009, and September 2009 Staff attendance at pertinent meetings, including the New England ail Club s annual ailroad, Spring Annual Freight Planning Progress eport Document. In addition to summarizing all freight movement related tasks completed by staff, the 2009 document included a review of the region s established NHS connector roadways, summer 2009 Staff review of rail freight periodical ail Pace magazine and the Atlantic Northeast ails & Ports e-newsletter. (The general news media provides little about freight rail while the coverage of passenger rail service is often biased and uninformed. Ongoing Another visualization technique used by staff is the production of large, framed digital photos of freight railroad locomotives operating in the region, Ongoing Compilation and distribution of a variety of data resources concerning freight and passenger rail, intermodal operations, trucking and the need to conserve energy, Ongoing Procedures As the CMMPO needs to carry out, as appropriate, the Freight Planning provisions of SAFETEA-LU, this work activity includes: egional ail Task Force Continue ongoing efforts to convene and strengthen the egional ail Task Force under the auspices of the CMMPO. Periodic meetings of the group are anticipated over the next program year. It is intended that the Task Force serve to assist and inform the CMMPO, as appropriate, in the transportation policy- 9

7 making process. Considering the region s central location as a distribution center to the New England and eastern New York marketplace, it is critical that the CMMPO be kept aware of freight operations and issues (rail, truck and intermodal within the region and neighboring MPOs as well as statewide and the Northeast. In addition, in part due to steadily rising fuel costs, local demand for expanded commuter and intercity passenger rail remains strong. As intended by SAFETEA-LU, the egional ail Task Force is expected to advance efforts for the CMMPO to stay informed about the various rail issues impacting the mobility of both freight and passengers. oundtable discussions, as previously hosted by staff, are anticipated to continue. In addition to passenger and freight rail, trucking/distribution and intermodal issues impacting the region would also be topics for discussion. The periodic sessions allow for the CMMPO to obtain improved information concerning existing operations, identified deficiencies and planned improvements, particularly those that have the potential to reap regional and/or statewide benefits. The egional ail Task Force is anticipated to convene perhaps twice annually, hosted by CMPC in the agency s Union Hall. Beyond the CMMPO, the region s communities need to be made aware of the nature of freight and passenger flows in a knowledgeable fashion from both the public and private viewpoints as well as the impediments that limit their mobility and growth. It is anticipated that local issues could be voiced to the egional ail Task Force for feedback and/or guidance. The group is expected to lend a knowledgeable perspective on the freight & passenger mobility issues and potential solutions within and external to the region. Potential topics of discussion include: ail Passenger Service: Allow the CMMPO to be made aware of the extent of competing MBTA Commuter ail initiatives, priorities and obstacles both in the region and on a statewide basis. ail Freight Service & Intermodal: Enable the CMMPO to be apprised of rail freight activities and challenges throughout the greater region to aid in formulating transportation policy. Similar to other neighboring states, the potential for Public/Private Partnerships warrants strong consideration in the Commonwealth. Trucking Operations: Trucking operations are projected to significantly increase on the nation s - and region s - highways over the coming decades. The CMMPO needs to be aware of trucking s critical role in the region as well as the needs of the industry. 10

8 Continue ongoing efforts to conduct traffic volume and vehicle classification counts on the region s established NHS Connectors (See egional Traffic Counting Program Task Host meetings of significance concerning freight and/or passenger issues, allowing the opportunity for shared consensus and strategy building. Such meetings have successfully demonstrated the importance of gathering interested parties together, providing an opportunity for a more unified perspective on issues impacting the region. (The CMPC office is located in Worcester s historic Union Station, an ideal setting for rail-related discussions. It will be the site of the Providence & Worcester ailroad s annual shareholder meeting to be held in April, Attend meetings of significance in the region and elsewhere, particularly the New England ail club s annual ailroad Expo, the Boston MPO s egional Transportation Advisory Council s (TAC Freight Committee, the National Corridors Initiative (NCI Alpha Committee and the Arc of Innovation. eview various periodicals, documents and research pertaining to freight and/or passenger issues, including ail Pace magazine and the Atlantic Northeast ails & Ports e-newsletter Document eview: Examples include assessing the findings and recommendations of pertinent studies as well as evaluating the secondary impacts (roadway, parking, pedestrian & bicycle issues associated with the potential expansion of passenger service or intermodal freight operations. Further, as applicable, work with host communities to ensure that project information is available to interested parties. esearch eview: This will allow for the CMMPO to be informed on current public policy related to freight mobility on the federal, state and local levels as well as private sector freight initiatives and responses to local and larger market conditions. This work activity would also utilize the agency s GIS capabilities to produce various maps and/or conduct various analyses. Examples include maps of the greater region s rail network, intermodal yards, designated truck routes, weight restricted structures, etc. Address any unanticipated Freight Planning-related requests from EOT-OTP and/or FHWA. 11

9 Products & Schedule Annual Freight Planning progress report document. Staff s freight planning efforts will be summarized in a report document complete with tables, graphics, and maps, documenting ongoing efforts over the past year. As always, particular attention will be given to the region s established NHS connector roadways, serving the region s intermodal facilities. Summer, 2010 Conduct traffic volume and vehicle classification counts on the region s NHS Connectors, Ongoing egional ail Task Force Continue efforts to periodically convene and strengthen the established egional ail Task Force under the auspices of the CMMPO. This group will continue to assist and inform the CMMPO, as appropriate, in the transportation policymaking process. It is anticipated that the Task Force will convene perhaps twice annually with CMPC hosting the meetings. Anticipated topics of discussion include, but are not limited to: 1. Development of State s ailroad & Freight Plans 2. ail Passenger Service 3. ail Freight Service & Intermodal 4. Trucking Operations Staff will continue to document the proceedings of the egional ail Task Force in order to provide a record for consideration and reference by the CMMPO. September Again, the mission of Freight Planning in the Commonwealth is to increase the opportunities to move freight and interregional passengers at reduced cost and with fewer impediments. Based upon input from the egional ail Task Force, staff will continue to stress the critical importance of freight movement through the development, evaluation and recommendation of strategies to address identified issues and challenges, including continued public education and outreach, September Meetings, Presentations & Visualization Host meetings concerning freight and/or passenger issues, such as EOT s efforts to develop the new ail and Freight plans for the state or the National Corridor Initiative s proposed New England Northeast Infrastructure Authority, Alpha Committee meetings, Ongoing 12

10 Attend various Freight Planning meetings in the region and elsewhere, particularly the Boston MPO s egional Transportation Advisory Council s (TAC Freight Committee, Ongoing Staff will continue the compilation of GIS generated freight and/or passenger related maps. Both aerial and pictometry views of the region s major intermodal transloading facilities will be provided and updated as necessary, Ongoing. Topic-specific PowerPoint slide presentations, used to both educate and inform decision makers and stakeholders, will continue to be compiled and customized, Ongoing. Staff also plans to continue visualization efforts through the production of large, framed digital photos of railroad equipment operating in the region, Ongoing. Staff will continue the ongoing review and chronology of rail freight periodical ail Pace magazine and the Atlantic Northeast ails & Ports e-newsletter, Ongoing Staff review of various documents and research pertaining to freight and/or passenger issues, Ongoing Address any unanticipated Freight Planning-related requests from EOT-OTP and/or FHWA, As necessary 13