The American Transportation Research Institute has released its report on best practices in freight planning at the state level. The report will allow state Departments of Transportation and their consultants to better address those freight planning components that are viewed as most critical by FHWA, state DOTs and State Trucking Association leaders.
ATRI called for nominations of innovative state freight plans from state DOT personnel and freight stakeholders nationwide. The top twelve plans then formed the basis for an โIdeal Attributes Checklist,โ by which the other state freight plans were assessed. The state plans are also compared against FAST Act-required and recommended components. In summary, the process synthesized minimum freight planning requirements along with innovative practices and mapped nearly 50 different freight plans against the โmodel freight planโ framework.
The reportโs Ideal Attributes Checklist, along with lessons learned and the various innovative practices highlighted within, will allow freight planners to consider a broad continuum of freight planning techniques for their next freight plan updates. The highest ranked plans utilize a variety of tools including quantitative industry data, visualizations, project prioritization tools and strong reliance on Freight Advisory Committees, among other approaches.
Texas was the highest ranked freight plan in ATRIโs research based in part on the stateโs use of detailed commodity and freight flow data in developing its plan, as well as active engagement of its Freight Advisory Committee throughout the planning process.
โWe are excited to be able to contribute our knowledge base to this important effort, and even more flattered that we were chosen by our peers as a model freight plan,โ said Caroline Mays, Director of the Texas Department of Transportationโs Freight Office. โThat said, our freight work has really just begun.โ
Other states receiving top accolades in ATRIโs report include Georgia, California, Mississippi, Iowa, Florida, Washington, Michigan, Ohio, Nevada, Maryland, and Alabama.
