# Presentation: 385585

## Freight Planning and Programming

***presented by*****Libby Ogard**
**Prime Focus, LLC**
**July 16, 2008**

**Freight Planning and Programming**

***Summary of NCHRP Project 8-53***

***Guidebook for Integrating Freight into Transportation Planning and Project Selection Processes***

## NCHRP 8-53 Background

**NCHRP 8-53 ****Background**

**Most states and MPOs address freight ****within long-range planning documents**
**Few have identified freight-specific ****projects that can be programmed, ****developed, and implemented**
**Purpose of this project was to develop ****a guidebook to allow states and MPOs ****to better integrate freight issues ****throughout the transportation ****planning and programming process**

## NCHRP 8-53Approach

**NCHRP 8-53****Approach**

**Identified key challenges associated with identifying, programming, and implementing freight improvement projects**
**Identified and described over 20 best practices of states and MPOs**
**Developed recommended practices, processes, ****and procedures for mainstreaming freight throughout ****all elements of the transportation planning process**
**Needs identification**
**Long-range planning**
**Programming**
**Project development and implementation**

## Seven Key Elements of Freight Planning & Programming

**Seven Key Elements of Freight Planning & Programming**

**Freight point of contact/technical lead**
**Understanding regional freight system**
**Linking freight planning and transportation planning and programming activities**
**Freight data needs assessment and collection**
**Effective outreach**
**Freight-related training & education opportunities**
**Advocacy**

## Seven Key Elements Freight POC/Technical Lead

**Seven Key Elements ****Freight POC/Technical Lead**

**A freight lead or point-of-contact is key to driving the identification, programming, and delivery of freight projects**
**Liaison between MPO and other agencies, freight stakeholders**
**Critically important when dealing with private sector freight community**
**Different MPOs take different approaches**

## Seven Key Elements Understanding Regional Freight System

**Seven Key Elements ****Understanding Regional Freight System**

**MPOs that have successfully integrated freight have a solid understanding of the regional freight system and how it impacts mobility, economic competitiveness, and quality of life**
**Key elements**
**Economic structure**
**Trade and industry logistics patterns**
**Freight infrastructure**
**Commodity and vehicle traffic flows**
**Organization and public policy**

## Seven Key Elements Linking Freight & “Traditional” Planning

**Seven Key Elements ****Linking Freight & “Traditional” Planning**

**The most successful examples are those states and MPOs that have mainstreamed freight within the existing transportation planning and programming process**
**Linkages come in many forms:**
**Freight implementation strategies**
**Highlighting freight projects within TIPs**
**Identification of key freight corridors and facilities**
**NCHRP Guidebook provides guidance on how to effectively integrate freight within existing processes**

## Seven Key Elements Freight Data

**Seven Key Elements ****Freight Data**

**Many MPOs frustrated with availability and adequacy of freight data**
**Critical for MPOs to identify data *****needs*****, then match against available data to identify gaps**
**Integrating freight-related data collection into existing data collection programs also important**

## Seven Key Elements Effective Outreach

**Seven Key Elements ****Effective Outreach**

**Freight related outreach strategies differ significantly from “traditional” public outreach techniques**
**Different audience, perspective, and time requirements**
**Outreach to other public sector agencies also important**
**Chambers of Commerce**
**Economic development agencies**
**Implementing agencies**

## Seven Key Elements Freight Training and Education Opportunities

**Seven Key Elements ****Freight**** ****Training and Education Opportunities**

**NHI courses**
**Freight Planning (139001)**
**Freight Forecasting (139002)**
**Advanced Freight Planning (139003)**
**Freight and the Environment (139005)**
**FHWA workshops and peer exchanges**
**Freight Financing workshop/guidebook**
**Engaging the private sector workshop**
**Freight data made simple**

## Seven Key Elements Advocacy

**Seven Key Elements ****Advocacy**

**There is still some institutional resistance to identifying and planning for freight-specific improvement projects**
**Developing high-level champions or advocates for freight planning activities is critical**
**Both technical proficiency and cultivation of partnerships are key elements of successful freight planning**
**Building and sustaining relationships with private sector freight industry is a critical element of success in freight planning and programming**

## For More Information...

**For More Information...**

**NCHRP 8-53 was published as NCHRP Report 594, available at **_**[http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_594.pdf](http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_594.pdf)**__** **_
**Other Questions?**

## Freight Planning and Programming

**Prime Focus, LLC**
**July 16, 2008**

**Freight Planning and Programming**

***Summary of NCHRP Project 8-53***

***Guidebook for Integrating Freight into Transportation Planning and Project Selection Processes***