| ODOT STATEWIDE FREIGHT PLANNING |
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| Challenges to Freight Mobility |
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Freight volumes nationwide are forecasted to double over the next 20-30 years, due primarily to unprecedented growth in global trade, particularly U.S. imports of Asian goods. While trucking, currently handling the majority of freight moved, will certainly increase – by up to 80% in the next 20 years according to estimates in the Oregon transportation plan -- there is also an opportunity for expansion in, and shifts to, other modes of transportation, i.e. rail, water and air commerce. Maximizing freight mobility and optimizing the use of all modes will be critical to continuing economic prosperity in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
A number of challenges face future freight movement demands:
- First, infrastructure in all modes is aging and needs replacement;
- Costs to maintain the aging system are increasing;
- Costs for improvements in capacity will continue to increase due to worldwide competition for steel, cement, petroleum and other raw materials;
- Funding is scarce nationally and locally, with the national Highway Trust Fund now seeking to expend more than it takes in, and with the buying power of gas taxes at both national and state levels expected to shrink another 40% in the next 20 years;
- Costs for energy, including transportation fuel are likely to increase during the next 20 years.
- Oregon is a fast-growing state – its own increasing demands for goods and services resulting from population growth will contribute to increasing congestion, particularly on roads;
- Much of the multimodal infrastructure is privately owned and therefore may require public/private partnerships to finance solutions.
- Global climate change may affect the functionality of many ports and other transportation infrastructure over the 25-30 year time horizon of a state freight plan; and
- International responses to west coast port congestion and to market growth are resulting in major shifts in global trade routes, which will affect Oregon’s market share of global trade.
Stronger public-private partnerships will be important to attempt to strike a balance between the needs of both as well as develop innovative new funding strategies.
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| Analyzing Impacts and Developing Plans |
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Under the umbrella of the 2006 Oregon Transportation Plan (OTP), ODOT is undertaking a statewide freight planning process in the coming years to accomplish the following:
- Analyze the current statewide multimodal freight system and maximize opportunities for improvement;
- Analyze the economic structure of the state that drives the demand for freight services.
- Develop a framework to incorporate freight mobility needs into statewide, regional and local transportation planning processes;
- Expand stakeholder and public knowledge and involvement regarding the importance of freight mobility within the larger transportation system; and
- Ensure the appropriate consideration of environmental, safety and security issues, with a particular focus on fuel demand, supply, emissions, and options.
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| The Statewide Planning Process |
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Work on the first phase of the statewide freight planning process is currently underway. ODOT staff is working with a variety of consultants to review the available data that could support the planning effort, identify additional data needs, and develop a stakeholder input and outreach plan.
The next phase of the statewide freight planning will start soon and include the collection of background information (including such topics as economics, logistics, freight infrastructure, freight traffic flow, and organizational and public policy). Future phases, with the assistance of stakeholders, will include the development of a strategic plan for addressing freight mobility issues.
The overall scope of this effort necessitates the coordination of multiple divisions within ODOT, interaction with other state agencies, and coordination of the efforts of multiple consultants. The ODOT Rail division will soon begin a rail study that will provide a complete assessment of the state of Oregon’s rail infrastructure. Other ODOT divisions will contribute data and expertise that will support the planning process. Interagency collaboration is under way with the Oregon Department of Aviation, the Port of Portland, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department’s marine section, Portland Metro and others to ensure that all key actors are involved in the statewide multimodal freight planning process. ODOT’s consultants will provide support and analysis to the agency, and stakeholders.
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| Stakeholder Input to the Process |
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Broad stakeholder education and input is critical to effective freight planning. In March 2007, the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) heard presentations from a panel of national and regional freight experts, setting the stage for the planning process. This was followed by a dinner with Oregon Freight Advisory Committee (OFAC) members, other stakeholders and ODOT senior management at which refinement of the process occurred. OFAC will continue to provide vital input on technical work resulting from consultant activities.
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