Development of the I-70 Corridor of National Significance Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study Ohio Conference on Freight 10:30 11:30 a.m. September 23, 2009 - Toledo, Ohio
Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study Moderator: Suzann Rhodes, Wilbur Smith Associates Consultant Project Manager Speakers: Keith Bucklew INDOT Director of Freight Mobility I-70 Coalition Lead and Project Manager Mark Locker ODOT Administrator, Office of Maritime, Freight Mobility and Planning I-70 Coalition Member Bill Harris Norfolk Southern, Resident Vice President, Public Affairs, Ohio
Overview Study to assessing feasibility of Dedicated Truck Lanes (DTLs) Kicked-off June 25-26, 2009 I-70 through MO, IL, IN, OH Approx. 800 miles I-70 Coalition Partners MoDOT, IDOT, INDOT, ODOT and FHWA INDOT serves as lead
I-70 Project Area
What will be discussed today Background / history Dedicated truck lanes concept on I-70 The Corridor of the Future Program The I-70 Feasibility Study What it will include and its status Perspectives from Ohio DOT Perspectives from Class 1 railroad Questions & Discussion
I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes A New Way Ahead Nova Ordo Non Nova Sed Nove Not new things, but in a New Way Keith J. Bucklew Director of Freight Mobility Indiana Department of Transportation
In the beginning.. 2005 Tom Sharp, former INDOT Director Had an idea Called together neighboring state DOTs Pete Rahn, MoDOT Director became champion Corridor of the Future Program USDOT
In the beginning.. 2007
Corridors of the Future Program (CFP) CFP an initiative under USDOT s National Strategy to Reduce Congestion Explore innovative financing Improve flow of goods Enhance quality of life I-70 one of 6 corridors selected and funded $5 million discretionary grant from FHWA $2 million to Missouri DOT - SEIS $3 million for I-70 Corridor Feasibility Study
Vision and Goals Reduce congestion & enhance mobility Improve reliability Improve safety Enhance economic development Reduce impacts to environment Improve security Facilitate intermodal integration
Findings from Corridor of the Future Phase 2 Application
Corridor Conditions - Truck Flows 2035 Source:FHWA FAF 2
Corridor Conditions - 2030 Urban Area Congestion
Corridor Conditions - Safety In 2004 the I-70 project area had: More than 10,000 crashes 18 % were truck involved crashes 36% of the truck involved crashes involved fatalities mainly to passenger car drivers and occupants 2.3 million vehicle hours of incidentinduced delay
Corridor Conditions - North and Eastbound Speeds on I-70 lag behind other Midwest corridors
Corridor Conditions - South and Westbound Speeds on I-70 lag behind other Midwest corridors
Conclusion: Lower travel speeds and safety issues on I-70 impacts its utilization and attractiveness to the trucking industry as a cross-county route.
Phase 2 CFP Application Proposed: Separating trucks from passenger cars as a solution to: Improve safety Conflicts and fatalities will be reduced Reduce congestion Vehicles accelerate and decelerate at different speeds Improve the Quality of Life
Phase 2 CFP Application Proposed: A feasibility study to testing the hypothesis that: Separation is the solution A business case can be made for DTL s Corridor length makes the study the first of its kind internationally
DOTs formed the I-70 Coalition Signed a Development Agreement (DA) US DOT and FHWA Signed MOU among the states Discussion with other state DOTs - prefer to wait for the results of this study $ 3 million in 80/20 funding provided $3.75 million Wrote RFP and scope - 2 phased study Hired consultant team
I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study scope: Define and evaluate: The need and demand for dedicated truck lanes as one option for improving safety and moving freight more efficiently; and Whether investments in dedicated truck lanes alone or in combination with investments in other modes are justified
Where we are. Study efforts began June 25-26, 2009 Initial stakeholder outreach Data collection underway Analytical approach being finalized
Phase 1 Analytical Approach: I 70 Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study Conceptual Scenarios to test Dedicated truck lanes could improve I 70 s safety and freight efficiency enough to justify investments in them. Stakeholder Interviews Motor Carrier Interviews Business interviews Performance metrics / configuration needed to attract users and achieve the goals Evaluation criteria Corridor profile and assessment Future needs and opportunities Inputs Demand for freight movements Private sector priorities Public sector priorities Safety and mobility improvements Refine Scenarios Financial feasibility Economic opportunities Multi modal integration Environmental features Regulatory climate Evaluation Is there a business case that makes dedicated truck lanes feasible? Report Vision & Goals D R A F T
Where we are Technical modeling under way Travel demand Commodity movements (FAF) Econometric Toll revenue Range of concepts being discussed
Study Status Freight & Commodity Analysis Freight generator data Airports Intermodal Terminals & Ports
I-70 Corridor project area connects to: 17 passenger and air cargo airports All 7 class 1 U.S. Railroads cross or parallel I-70 Water ports on the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers
Level of detail - Travel Demand Modeling and Toll Revenue Analysis
Range of Concepts: Design and Technology
Range of Concepts:
Range of Concepts: Ex. Hard Configuration Source: MODOT SEIS, Chapter 3 Alternatives Source: ROD FHWA MO EIS-09-01 FSEIS I-70 Corridor
Range of Concepts: Ex. Soft Configuration Source: ROD FHWA MO EIS-09-01 FSEIS I-70 Corridor
Range of Concepts: High Tech Design Options Automated Limited Access / Unbalanced Lane Aerial View Median barrier separation
Range of Concepts: Technology Integration (examples) ITS Advanced Traffic Management Systems Traveler Information Emergency Management Weight in Motion / Virtual Weight-in-Motion Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Electronic Tolling / Congestion Pricing Roadside Parking
Where we are First technical reports within a month Web site available within 1-2 weeks More stakeholder outreach as findings become available Phase 1 Report in March, 2010
I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes - Milestones
I-70 Dedicated Truck Lanes Feasibility Study Ohio s Perspective and Role Mark Locker Administrator, Freight Mobility Ohio Department of Transportation
ODOT s Role Partner in the USDOT Corridor of the Future Phase 2 application with other DOT s and FHWA for the MOU and DA Coalition Member Help guide the technical study Review and evaluate findings Will recommend continuing study to next level of detail Will make recommendation to advance or not advance the concept of dedicated truck lanes on I-70
ODOT Key Issues and Concerns: ODOT as a Coalition Member is making sure the study answers these questions Multi modal and intermodal integration Use of limited DOT money to advance this concept vs. using money for other needed projects Insuring the Corridor, if developed, is able to be a test bed for future innovations
Multi modal and Intermodal Integration Could a parallel rail line make sense? How will truck lanes connect to intermodal facilities along the corridor?
Ex. NS existing lines don t follow I-70 completely
Best use of limited transportation funding Is this the best use of the limited funds? How compare to spending same amount on other modes, other projects? Study is to address how measure / compare Productivity Improved safety Reduced congestion
Test bed for innovation If we build it: Will it be flexible to adapt for the future? We do not want to build the Erie Canal out of date when completed / replaced by advances in railroad technology Needs to provide for: Trucks of the future Alternative fuels Possibly scheduled flows like air traffic control
www.i70dtl.org Keith Bucklew: kbucklew@indot.in.gov Mark Locker: mark.locker@dot.state.oh.us Suzann Rhodes: srhodes@wilbursmith.com 614-888-9940