Developing Resilient Freight Systems Barbara Ivanov Co-Director Freight Systems Division TRB 2011 Transportation Hazards and Security Summit August 23, 2011
How Can States Develop Resilient Freight Systems? Resiliency is defined as the ability to rapidly restore service after a disruption. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) worked with MIT s Center for Transportation and Logistics to develop a process that any state or governing agency may use to create a Freight System Resiliency Plan. This process outlines: A logical approach to develop a statewide freight system resiliency plan. Stakeholders roles and tasks needed to develop a resiliency plan. Flooding on I-5 Corridor in Washington State December 7, 2007 2
Freight System Resiliency is Based on Meeting Customer Needs While developing WSDOT s Freight Resiliency Plan, we interviewed freight shippers, carriers and forwarders about their expectations of government, and how they d work with government when there is a highimpact disruption. We found that: They didn't know who in government to call post-disruption for information, and they relied on the media for real-time information. There was no communication system in place allowing government agencies to communicate directly with freight customers. They expect government to have pre-established rational priorities. They value accurate, timely information above all else. 3
Planning for a Resilient Freight System - Key Insights Response does not equal recovery. The skills, objectives and resource needs are different. The public and private sectors must jointly own the recovery plan. Both have a role to fill. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) must have a credible, reliable and user-friendly communication system for freight customers. The state needs to pre-plan mechanisms to fast-track recovery. The state has to be able to manage scarcity. 4
Eight Steps to Developing a Freight Systems Resiliency Plan Step 1 - Identify the customers of the state s freight transportation system. There are three meta-freight systems in Washington: I. Global Gateways The national economy and defense depend on international and national trade flows through Washington State. II. Made in Washington Regional economies rely on freight-dependent industries: manufacturing, construction, agribusiness and wood products sectors. III. Delivering Goods To You Up to 80 percent of urban truck trips deliver food, fuel, retail goods and more to stores and residents. 5
Steps to Developing a Freight Systems Resiliency Plan Step 2 - Set goals and metrics for recovery. For example: Return container flow through the ports to X percent of previous level within Y days of event. Restore truck access to the interstate system to X percent within Y days. Step 3 - Analyze vulnerabilities of the region s transportation network. Consider: Independent actions of private firms Infrastructure and modal interdependencies Vulnerability of different customer segments. Port of Seattle, Washington Flooding on I-5 Corridor in Washington State January 2009 6
Developing a Freight Systems Resiliency Plan Step 4 - Engage private sector partners and develop a communication plan. The center of the communication plan is the notification process. There are three components of a freight notification system: 1. Develop situational awareness: the process in which information about freight corridor conditions is sent to freight notification system managers. 2. Set up a robust distribution service: many commercial companies offer email, text and voice mail message distribution services at low cost. 3. Maintain the freight customer database: shippers, freight carriers and others. Freight notification system key messages: Send targeted messages in simple English: use maps and diagrams. Focus on road conditions, and safe and legal detours for trucks. Provide predictive information so shippers and carriers can plan ahead. If detour use is limited, be very specific about allowed use. Send notices whenever there s a change in conditions, and tell customers when the next notice will be sent. Distribute notices directly to WSDOT freight shippers and carriers and through trade association and freight media multipliers. 7
WSDOT Freight Notification System At Work Freight System Users Update on I-5 Closure Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007 4 p.m. Here is our latest update. We will send you another e-mail update Wednesday mid-morning. We must wait for daylight tomorrow to assess roadway conditions. In the meantime, you can check the following for detailed information Web: Washington / Oregon Phone: 5-1-1 in Washington and Oregon We will send further e-mail updates as situations change. Flooded I-5 in Chehalis still closed; crews wait for river to recede I-5 remains closed from Exit 68 in Lewis County (11 miles south of Chehalis) to Exit 88 near Grand Mound in Thurston County (approximately 20 miles south of Olympia) due to flooding. It will remain closed through Thursday at a minimum and possibly longer, depending on when the floodwaters recede and how much damage the roadway may have incurred. We believe we will be better able to assess conditions tomorrow and provide a better estimate of the opening date by mid-morning Wednesday. Detour map (440 miles one way) http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/update/i5-closure-milepost-68-88.htm To subscribe to the Freight Systems Updates or other e-mail updates, go to: https://service.govdelivery.com/service/user.html?code=wadot 8
Developing a Freight Resiliency Plan Step 5 - Decide what policy and regulatory procedures need to be in place before disruptions occur. Step 6 - Decide how you will set priorities and agree on trigger setting processes. When capacity is scarce, who gets to use it? Washington State developed a new commercial vehicle pass system to safely and efficiently authorize emergency, essential and other goods delivery to and through affected areas during a highway disruption of two-to-seven-days duration. The State set three goods categories in priority order: Category A Emergency - set by the State EOC and event dependent, Category B Essential - food and water, fuel, health care supplies, perishable livestock and feed, parcel trucks, cash, and empty trucks returning to resupply these goods, and Category C Other - all other goods as detour capacity allows. The commercial vehicle pass online system: Authorizes use of available highway detours, when there is no or reduced capacity on major freight corridors. Allows shippers and trucking companies to apply for a commercial vehicle pass online and print it at their location. The pass is date and time stamped and affixed to the truck cab. Controls volume on highway detours to ensure safety. 9
Developing a Freight Systems Resiliency Plan Step 7 - Run failure analysis simulations on the most critical infrastructure. WSDOT developed the state s first GIS-based multimodal freight model in 2009. When loaded with commodity flow data and route impedance factors, the model helps the state: Understand how disruptions change the way companies route goods, Plan to protect high-risk freight-dependent sectors, and Prioritize future transportation investments based on the risk of economic loss to the state. WSDOT used the new state freight model to analyze two supply chains: the potato industry and diesel fuel distribution. 10
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Diesel Fuel Distribution in Washington State terminal racks truck pipeline barge 12
Diesel Fuel is Delivered by Truck From Terminals 13
If a Terminal Closes, the Shortest Distance for Truck Delivery of Diesel Fuel Changes 14
Different Supply Chains Have Very Different Sensitivity to Freight Corridor Disruptions Potato Growing and Processing Shippers margin per truckload of potatoes is low, so during a disruption they re unlikely to use long, expensive detours. The supply chain is dependent on east-west truck trips on I-90 between growers, processors and the market. Diesel Delivery from Terminals to Fuel Stations Very large volumes are moved short distances by truck. Resiliency is built into the diesel truck delivery system as companies regularly change sources when fuel prices change. Very little I-90 travel. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Potato Commission 15
Developing a Freight Systems Resiliency Plan Step 8 - Test and improve the plan by running large scale exercises. Flooding on I-5 in Lewis County, Washington Traffic waiting for I-5 to reopen after flooding - 2007 16
For a full copy of the WSDOT Development of a Statewide Freight System Resiliency Plan-Final Research Report please go to http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/freight/publications/resiliency.htm Questions? Please contact the Washington State Department of Transportation Freight Systems Division Email: freight@wsdot.wa.gov Web: www.wsdot.wa.gov/freight 17