Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory Committees, 62596-62601 [2012-25261]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Notices
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Dated: September 27, 2012.
Rachel M. Arndt,
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[FR Doc. 2012–25249 Filed 10–12–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 8062]
Allowing New Investment in Burma
Bureau of Economic & Business
Affairs, Office of Sanctions Policy and
Implementation, Department of State.
SUMMARY: The Deputy Secretary of State
has determined that it would be
contrary to the national security
interests of the United States to
continue to apply the sanction referred
to in section 570(b) of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and
Related Programs Appropriations Act of
1997 (Pub. L. 104–208) (the ‘‘Act’’),
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President makes certain determinations
and certifications to Congress. The
President made the required
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imposed a prohibition on new
investment in Executive Order 13047
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the determination described above
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AGENCY:
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Further reforms would advance
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improving respect for human rights;
curtailing the flow from Burma of
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advancing nonproliferation goals. While
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of the military in the Burmese economy,
it believes that the participation of U.S.
businesses in the Burmese economy will
set a model for responsible investment
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encourage further change, promote
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DATES: Effective Date: July 11, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
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Office of Sanctions Policy and
Implementation, 202–647–9452.
Dated: September 27, 2012.
Jose W. Fernandez,
Assistant Secretary for Economic and
Business Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012–25252 Filed 10–12–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of
Transportation
Interim Guidance on State Freight
Plans and State Freight Advisory
Committees
Office of the Secretary of
Transportation (OST), U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT), Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA),
Federal Motor Carriers Administration
(FMCSA) Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Maritime
Administration (MARAD), Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHSMA), Research and
Innovative Technology Administration
(RITA), St. Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation (SLSDC).
ACTION: Notice of Interim Guidance and
Request for Comments.
AGENCY:
On July 6, 2012, the President
signed into law Public Law 112–141, the
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century Act (MAP–21). Section 1118 of
MAP–21 directs the Secretary of
Transportation to encourage each State
to develop a comprehensive State
Freight Plan that outlines immediate
SUMMARY:
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and long-range plans for freight-related
transportation investments. Section
1117 of MAP–21 directs the Secretary to
encourage each State to establish a State
Freight Advisory Committee. The
Department of Transportation is issuing
this Notice to provide Interim Guidance
on both State Freight Plans and State
Freight Advisory Committees. It
encourages States to develop State
Freight Plans and provides guidance to
States on the required elements of a
State Freight Plan and information on
funding and on the relationship of State
Freight Plans to other provisions of
MAP–21. It encourages States to
develop State Freight Advisory
Committees as part of the process for
developing a State Freight Plan. The
Department requests public comments
on all aspects of this Interim Guidance.
DATES: All public comments must be
received by November 15, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments
identified by Docket Number DOT–
OST–2012–0168 using any of the
following methods:
Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: https://www.regulations.gov and
follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590–0001. Fax 1–202–493–2251.
Courier: commercial delivery service,
such as, but not limited to the
following—Federal Express or United
Parcel Service, addressed to Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
The Department will post all
comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information. If you mail or
hand deliver your comments and want
the Department to acknowledge receipt
of your comments, include with your
comments a pre-addressed, stamped
postcard on which the docket number
appears. We will stamp the date on the
postcard and mail it to you.
Docket: To read background
documents or comments received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov or to Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search
the electronic form of all comments
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Notices
received in any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment if
submitted on behalf of an association, a
business, a labor union, etc.). You may
review the Department’s complete
Privacy Act statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000
(65 FR 19477–78), or you may visit
https://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
This Interim Guidance will also be
posted on the Department’s MAP–21
Web site (www.dot.gov/map21).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Jack Wells, Chief Economist, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC
20590. Telephone Number (202) 366–
9224 or Email jack.wells@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background and Program Purpose
II. Policy
III. Funding
IV. Contents of State Freight Plans
V. The State Freight Planning Process
VI. Data and Analytical Resources for State
Freight Planning
VII. Request for Comments
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I. Background and Program Purpose
The purpose of this document is to
provide guidance on the
implementation of Section 1118 (State
Freight Plans) and Section 1117 (State
Freight Advisory Committees) of the
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century Act (MAP–21). Section 1118
directs the Secretary of Transportation
to encourage States to develop freight
plans that are comprehensive and that
include both immediate and long-term
freight planning activities and
investments. Section 1117 directs the
Secretary to encourage each State to
establish a State Freight Advisory
Committee consisting of a representative
cross-section of public and private
freight stakeholders. Section 1118
specifies certain minimum contents for
State Freight Plans, and states that such
a plan may be developed separate from
or be incorporated into the statewide
strategic long-range transportation plan
required by section 135 of title 23,
United States Code.
Section 1116 of MAP–21
(Prioritization of Projects to Improve
Freight Movement) authorizes the
Secretary to increase the Federal share
payable for any project to 95 percent for
projects on the Interstate System and 90
percent for any other project if the
Secretary certifies that the project:
• Demonstrates the improvement
made by the project to the efficient
movement of freight (including making
progress on freight performance
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measures established under MAP–21)
and
• Is identified in a State Freight Plan
developed pursuant to section 1118.
The Federal Highway Administration
will be issuing separate guidance on the
implementation of Section 1116. One
purpose of this guidance is to inform
States of the freight planning process
they must undertake to qualify for the
freight prioritization provisions of
Section 1116.
II. Policy
The U.S. Department of
Transportation strongly encourages all
States to develop State Freight Plans.
The Department believes that freight
transportation, because its effects are
often regional or national in scope, and
includes freight providers that own and
operate private infrastructure, has often
been more difficult for States to
incorporate into their planning process
than has passenger transportation, and
that accordingly infrastructure
investments and other State policy
initiatives related to freight
transportation have often received less
funding and attention than passengerrelated initiatives. Because freight
transportation is critical to the economic
vitality of the United States, renewed
attention to safe and efficient freight
transportation can have a positive effect
on the economic growth of the United
States.
State Freight Plans can identify freight
transportation facilities that are critical
to each State’s economic growth and
give appropriate priority to investments
in such facilities. In doing so, such
Plans can enhance economic growth at
both the State and National level, thus
enhancing the Nation’s economic
competitiveness. State Freight Plans can
also help to guide investments and other
policies that will help to achieve the
Department’s other strategic goals,
including safety, state of good repair,
livability, and environmental
sustainability. State Freight Plans can
also identify freight transportation
facilities that are critical to export
movements and, by directing resources
toward improving those facilities, assist
the United States in meeting the goals
of the President’s National Export
Initiative.
The State Freight Plan may be
developed separate from or incorporated
into the statewide strategic long-range
transportation plan required by section
135 of title 23, United States Code. If the
State Freight Plan is separate from the
statewide strategic long-range
transportation plan, each plan should
show how the findings of the State
Freight Plan are incorporated into the
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statewide strategic long-range
transportation plan. If the two plans are
combined, the statewide strategic longrange transportation plan should
include a separate section focused on
freight transportation, and must include
the elements specified in section 1118.
Other State transportation plans, such as
State Rail Plans, are required by statute
to be coordinated with section 135 of
title 23, and as a consequence the freight
component of those plans should be
incorporated into the State Freight Plan
to ensure a comprehensive and systemwide planning approach.
The Department also strongly
encourages all States to establish State
Freight Advisory Committees. Such
Advisory Committees are an important
part of the process needed to develop a
thorough State Freight Plan. Bringing
together the perspectives and
knowledge of public and private
partners, including shippers, carriers,
and infrastructure owners and
operators, is important to developing a
quality State Freight Plan.
The Department will be developing a
multimodal National Freight Strategic
Plan in accordance with the
requirements of Section 1115 of MAP–
21, and intends to rely significantly on
the freight plans prepared by the States.
III. Funding
Authorization level under MAP–21:
There is no formula or discretionary
funding specifically associated with
State Freight Plans or State Freight
Advisory Committees.
States may use funding allocated
under the Surface Transportation
Program (23 U.S.C. 133) for developing
State Freight Plans, as well as funding
under the State Planning and Research
Program (23 U.S.C. 505). They may also
use carryover balances from National
Highway System funds authorized
under SAFETEA–LU (23 U.S.C.
103(b)(6)(E) as in effect on the day
before enactment of MAP–21) that can
be used for transportation planning in
accordance with 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135
(23 U.S.C. 103 was amended by MAP–
21 section 1104, which eliminated the
National Highway System Program
under section 103, and hence
eliminated the funding for planning
under section 103 as amended).
IV. Contents of State Freight Plans
Section 1118 of MAP–21 requires that
a State Freight Plan developed pursuant
to Section 1118 include, at a minimum,
the following elements:
• An identification of significant
freight system trends, needs, and issues
with respect to the State;
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• A description of the freight policies,
strategies, and performance measures
that will guide the freight-related
transportation investment decisions of
the State;
• A description of how the plan will
improve the ability of the State to meet
the national freight goals established
under section 167 of title 23, United
States Code;
• Evidence of consideration of
innovative technologies and operational
strategies, including intelligent
transportation systems, that improve the
safety and efficiency of freight
movement;
• In the case of routes on which travel
by heavy vehicles (including mining,
agricultural, energy cargo or equipment,
and timber vehicles) is projected to
substantially deteriorate the condition
of roadways, a description of
improvements that may be required to
reduce or impede the deterioration; and
• An inventory of facilities with
freight mobility issues, such as truck
bottlenecks, within the State, and a
description of the strategies the State is
employing to address those freight
mobility issues.
In addition to these minimum elements
required by section 1118, the
Department has provided additional
recommended elements based on what
States have found useful to include in
freight plans that have already been
prepared, as well as on consistency with
the requirements for the National
Freight Strategic Plan, found in 23 U.S.C
167(f).
State Freight Plans may be organized
in any structure that works best for
individual States, as long as they cover
the required elements; however, in
order to aid States in addressing the
required criteria, and to facilitate the
incorporation of analysis from the State
Freight Plans into the National Freight
Strategic Plan, as well as to aid in
conceptualizing the detailed issues
surrounding robust freight planning,
DOT is suggesting the following
structure as a recommended model for
states to follow.
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1. Strategic Goals
As specified in section 1118, a State
Freight Plan must include a description
of how the plan will improve the ability
of the State to meet the national freight
goals established under 23 U.S.C. 167.
The following is a summary of the goals
of the National Freight Policy
established in 23 U.S.C. 167:
• Improving the contribution of the
freight transportation system to
economic efficiency, productivity, and
competitiveness;
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• Reducing congestion on the freight
transportation system;
• Improving the safety, security, and
resilience of the freight transportation
system;
• Improving the state of good repair
of the freight transportation system;
• Using advanced technology,
performance management, innovation,
competition, and accountability in
operating and maintaining the freight
transportation system;
• Reducing adverse environmental
and community impacts of the freight
transportation system.
The Department recommends that each
State Freight Plan also include a
discussion of the State’s strategic goals
for freight transportation. These goals
would include the goals of the National
Freight Policy summarized above, but
States may also add other strategic
goals. The Department recommends that
State Freight Plans indicate which goals
are most important to the State.
2. The Economic Context of Freight
Transportation Planning
The Department recommends that
each State Freight Plan include a
discussion of the role that freight
transportation plays in the State’s
overall economy. This section would
identify what industries are most
important to the State, and what supply
chains (including the transportation
modes that support them) are critical to
the State’s industries. In particular, it
would indicate what supply chains
involving the State are important to
exports, whether the exports of that
State or of other States.
3. Freight Policies, Strategies, and
Institutions
As specified in section 1118, a State
Freight Plan must include a discussion
of the State’s freight policies and
strategies that will guide the freightrelated transportation investment
decisions of the State. The Department
recommends that this section also
discuss how these freight policies and
strategies will guide not just freightrelated transportation investment
decisions of the State, but also the
broader freight improvement strategy of
the State, including operational
strategies and policy changes. The
Department recommends that this
discussion also:
• Include the State’s grant and loan
programs that are available to pay for
freight-related transportation
infrastructure;
• Identify the State’s freight-related
institutions, including transportationrelated infrastructure owners and
regulatory authorities, such as the State
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DOT, port authorities, toll roads, and
bridge and tunnel authorities;
• Explain the governance structures
and funding mechanisms for such
authorities (e.g., whether the authorities
are controlled by the governor or are
independent, and whether the authority
has a dedicated source of revenue);
• Identify private transportation
infrastructure owners, such as railroads,
terminals, pipelines, and freight transfer
facilities;
• Identify statutory and constitutional
constraints on freight-related
investments and policies, such as
prohibitions on spending State funds for
certain kinds of freight infrastructure;
• Discuss regional freight planning
activities in which the State
participates, such as planning for key
multi-state freight corridors, multi-state
metropolitan areas, or for other regional
groups of States; and
• Set out the State’s priorities in
freight transportation infrastructure
development.
4. State Freight Transportation Assets
As specified in section 1118, a State
Freight Plan must include an inventory
of facilities with freight mobility issues.
The Department recommends that this
inventory also include a complete
inventory of the State’s freight
transportation assets. This would
include a description of the State’s
transportation infrastructure in all
freight-carrying modes, the warehousing
and intermodal facilities located in the
State, and the freight gateways and
corridors that are located in or that pass
through the State. MAP–21 places
particular emphasis on transportation
infrastructure that is used to serve areas
of the State that are significant for
energy development, mining,
agriculture, and timber production, and
the Department recommends that the
State Freight Plan inventory note
particularly routes that are used to move
equipment for these productive
activities into those areas and for
moving the output of those productive
activities out of those areas.
5. The Conditions and Performance of
the State’s Freight Transportation
System
As specified in section 1118, a State
Freight Plan must include the
performance measures that will guide
the freight-related transportation
investment decisions of the State. The
Department recommends that this
discussion also include an analysis of
the conditions and performance of the
State’s freight transportation system.
This analysis would include the
identification of bottlenecks in the
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freight transportation system that cause
delays and unreliability in freight
movements, as well as other specific
locations that are in a poor state of good
repair, create safety hazards, or create
other performance problems. The
National Freight Strategic Plan also is
required to include an analysis of the
conditions and performance of the
national freight system, and when those
measures of freight conditions and
performance are established, the
Department recommends that State
Freight Plans include those measures.
Until those measures are established,
however, the Department recommends
that States use the measures of
condition and performance that they
consider to be most reasonable and
appropriate. In general, the Department
recommends that measures of
conditions and performance reflect the
State’s freight transportation goals—for
each goal, there would be at least one
measure of condition or performance
that indicates how well the freight
transportation system is doing in
achieving that goal.
The Department recommends that
States use measures of conditions of
transportation infrastructure that reflect
the quality of service that this
infrastructure provides to users of that
infrastructure and to the general public.
Similarly, measures of the performance
of the freight transportation system
would reflect the quality of freight
service provided to freight shippers and
the impact of the freight transportation
system on the general public. Measures
of conditions and performance would
reflect outcomes that are directly
important to the system’s users and to
the general public (for example,
reductions in crashes, fatalities, and
injuries; reduced delay and congestion;
and reduced vehicle operating costs);
The Department recommends that States
try to avoid using measures that are not
of direct importance to users and the
general public (for example, miles of
track or number of bridges inspected
each year).
6. Freight Forecast
Consistent with one of the required
elements of the National Freight
Strategic Plan, which must be
developed in consultation with the
States, the Department recommends that
State Freight Plans include a 20-year
forecast of freight transportation
demands, broken down by mode of
transportation and commodity
classification, and showing demands for
transportation of freight coming into the
State, outbound from the State, passing
through the State between outside origin
and destination points, and moving
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intrastate between origin and
destination points within the State. The
freight forecast could draw upon the
forecast prepared by the Federal
Highway Administration’s (FHWA)
Office of Freight Management and
Operations and on the Federal Aviation
Administration’s national and airportlevel forecasts of air cargo. The FHWA
forecast includes projected tonnage for
each mode—truck, rail, air (air and
truck), water, and pipeline.
7. Overview of Trends, Needs, and
Issues
As specified in section 1118, a State
Freight Plan must identify significant
freight system trends, needs, and issues
with respect to the State. The
Department recommends that this
discussion also include how emerging
trends make those needs and issues of
greater significance, or how these trends
affect how those needs and issues can
be addressed.
8. Strengths and Problems of the State’s
Freight Transportation System
The Department recommends that a
State Freight Plan include an analysis of
the strengths of the State’s freight
system that it wishes to preserve and the
problems that it wishes to solve. This
analysis would show what the strengths
of the State’s freight system are that the
State wishes to build upon; it would
also show in what respects the State’s
freight system does not meet the State’s
goals, and indicate which problems are
most important for the State to address.
Some of these might include problems
that the State expects to develop in the
future as a result of increasing demand
for freight transportation or other trends
that the State is anticipating.
9. The State’s Decision-Making Process
The Department recommends that a
State Freight Plan include a discussion
of the State’s decision-making process
on freight transportation improvements,
including how the State conducted
outreach to stakeholders and the public
and how the State prioritized the
various strategies, projects, and policy
changes it considered. This discussion
would show how the State coordinated
improvements to different modes of
transportation in order to achieve its
goals in the most cost-effective way. It
would also discuss ways in which the
State coordinated with other States in
regional freight planning efforts, and
with metropolitan areas within the State
that have done freight planning.
The Department encourages States to
conduct economic analysis as part of the
State Freight Plan, including analyses of
benefits and costs of various
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improvements that they are considering.
If economic analysis has been
conducted, the results of that analysis
should be reported in this portion of the
State Freight Plan. The discussion
would show how the State compared
alternative approaches to achieving the
same goal. As specified in section 1118,
the discussion must also show evidence
of consideration of operational strategies
(such as congestion pricing) or
innovative technologies (such as use of
intelligent transportation systems (ITS))
that improve the safety and efficiency of
freight movement. If an economic
analysis is provided, it would be
particularly useful to estimate benefits
and costs of each alternative considered.
10. The State’s Freight Improvement
Strategy
As specified in section 1118, a State
Freight Plan must include a description
of the strategies the State is employing
to address freight mobility issues. The
Department recommends that this
description also include a presentation
of the State’s complete freight
improvement strategy, with different
improvements ranked in order of
priority (or grouped into higher and
lower priority groups). This
presentation of the State’s freight
improvement strategy would include an
analysis of how each improvement will
advance the State’s strategic goals,
relating to:
• Capital investments;
• Operational improvements, such as
congestion pricing and travel demand
management;
• Policy changes, including
performance management, competition,
and accountability initiatives; and
• Expanded use of ITS and other
innovative technologies.
The strategy would also include:
• An analysis of how proposed
improvements will affect specific
supply chains and industries that have
been identified as important to the State
in Section 2;
• Because MAP–21 places particular
emphasis on infrastructure that is used
for transporting mining, agricultural,
energy, and timber equipment and
products, a discussion of how those
freight transportation routes would be
affected (and in particular how the
strategy would impede the deterioration
in the condition of infrastructure on
those routes);
• An analysis of the improvements in
outcomes that are expected to result
from the proposed freight
improvements;
• A discussion of how the freight
plan relates to other transportation
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plans, such as a state rail plan, a longrange statewide transportation plan, or a
metropolitan area freight plan; and
A discussion of how the State’s Freight
Improvement Strategy coordinates with
plans of other adjacent States, including
groups of States that work together to
plan for freight transportation along key
multi-state freight corridors, in multistate metropolitan areas, or through
other regional groupings.
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11. Implementation Plan
Finally, the Department recommends
that a State Freight Plan include a
comprehensive implementation plan,
showing both short-term and long-term
strategies, and including an
approximate time schedule for each
proposed freight improvement. This
implementation plan would include an
analysis of which capital improvements
have the potential to generate a revenue
stream, and hence which projects have
the potential to be funded with loans
(repaid from the revenue stream) rather
than solely through grants or general
funds. The Plan would include a
funding plan, showing how each project
will be funded, including those funded
by grants, loans, and public-private
partnerships. The Plan would discuss
the State’s proposed partnerships with
private infrastructure owners, such as
railroads, terminal operators, and
pipeline companies. Finally, the Plan
would discuss how the State proposes
to work with adjacent States on projects
that cross State lines, or on freight
corridors that cross State lines (even if
the project itself is all in one State).
V. The State Freight Planning Process
The Department recommends that
States use a collaborative process for
freight planning that involves all of the
relevant stakeholders affected by the
freight transportation system. These
stakeholders would include owners of
freight transportation infrastructure
(both public and private); carriers
operating on publicly-owned freight
infrastructure; shippers and freight
forwarders; representatives of
employees of these stakeholders; State,
local, and tribal governments; and the
general public. Stakeholders might be
domiciled both inside the State and
outside of the State.
States are strongly encouraged to
establish State Freight Advisory
Committees to facilitate this
collaborative process. As specified in
section 1117 of MAP–21, State Freight
Advisory Committees should include
representatives of a cross-section of
public and private sector experts and
stakeholders. These might include
representatives of:
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• The transportation department of
the State;
• Metropolitan planning
organizations, councils of government,
regional councils, and other regional
and planning organizations;
• Local and tribal governments;
• Independent transportation
authorities, such as seaport and airport
authorities, toll highway authorities,
and bridge and tunnel authorities;
• Private infrastructure owners, such
as railroads and pipelines;
• Carriers, including carriers
operating on their own infrastructure
and carriers operating on publiclyowned infrastructure;
• Shippers and freight forwarders;
• Freight-related associations;
• Organizations representing the
freight industry workforce;
• Environmental, safety, and
community organizations; and
• Independent transportation experts,
including academic specialists and
consultants.
State Freight Advisory Committees
should be charged with
• Advising the State on freight-related
priorities, issues, projects, and funding
needs;
• Serving as a forum for discussion of
State decisions affecting freight
transportation;
• Communicating and coordinating
regional priorities with other
organizations;
• Promoting the sharing of
information between the private and
public sectors on freight issues; and
• Participating in the development of
the State’s Freight Plan.
VI. Data and Analytical Resources for
State Freight Planning
The modal administrations of the U.S.
Department of Transportation and other
departments in the U.S. Government
can provide a wide range of data and
analysis to assist States in the freight
planning process. The following is a
series of links to internet Web sites that
provide useful data and analysis
resources:
General Data and Analysis Sources on
Freight
Commodity Flow Survey: https://www.bts
.gov/publications/commodity_flow_survey/
Data Sources Related to Freight
Transportation: https://www.ops.
fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/
data_sources/index.htm
Freight Analysis Framework: https://
www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/
freight_analysis/faf/index.htm
Freight Performance Measures: https://
www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_
analysis/travel_time.htm
Quick Response Freight Manual: https://
www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/
publications/qrfm2/index.htm
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Maritime Statistics
USA Trade Online (The Official Source for
U.S. Merchandise Trade Data), U.S. Census
Bureau: https://www.usatradeonline.gov/
Navigation Data Center, Waterborne
Commerce Statistics Center, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers: https://
www.ndc.iwr.usace.army.mil/wcsc/
wcsc.htm
Navigation Data Center, Vessel Entrances and
Clearances, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
https://www.ndc.iwr.usace.army.mil/data/
dataclen.htm
Maritime Statistics, U.S. Maritime
Administration: https://www.marad.dot.
gov/library_landing_page/data_and_
statistics/Data_and_Statistics.htm
Marview Statistics, U.S. Maritime
Administration: www.marview.gov/
Rail Freight Resources and Statistics
The Preliminary National Rail Plan: https://
www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RailPlan
Prelim10-15.pdf
The National Rail Plan Progress Report:
https://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/
NRP_Sept2010_WEB.pdf
The Proposed State Rail Plan Guidance:
https://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/
fp_Proposed_State_Rail_Plan_
Guidance.shtml
Comparative Evaluation of Rail and Truck
Fuel Efficiency on Competitive Corridors:
https://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/
Comparative_Evaluation_Rail_Truck_
Fuel_Efficiency.pdf
Discussion of the confidential Carload
Waybill Sample and State access: https://
www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/
econ_waybill.html
National Transportation Atlas Database
includes FRA rail network: https://
www.bts.gov/publications/
national_transportation_atlas_database/
Online highway rail grade crossing
investment analysis tool: https://
gradedec.fra.dot.gov/
Interactive mapping application that allows
users to view aspects of railroad
infrastructure: https://fragis.frasafety.net/
GISFRASafety/default.aspx
Air Freight Statistics
FAA Air Cargo forecasts: https://www.faa.gov/
about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/
aviation_forecasts/aerospace_forecasts/
2012–2032/
Click on ‘‘Forecast Tables, US Commercial
and Foreign Flag Carriers, Tables 5–23.’’
Cargo forecasts are Tables 19 and 20.
VII. Request for Comments
DOT invites interested parties to
submit comments on any aspect of the
Department’s implementation of MAP–
21 requirements for State Freight Plans
or State Freight Advisory Committees.
The Department will consider these
comments as it continues to implement
the freight provisions of the law. The
instructions for submitting comments
can be found in the Addresses section
above. Late-filed comments will be
considered to the extent practicable.
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Notices
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 5,
2012.
Ray LaHood,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–25261 Filed 10–12–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
Sunshine Act Meetings; Unified Carrier
Registration Plan Board of Directors
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Unified Carrier
Registration Plan Board of Directors
Meeting.
AGENCY:
The meeting will be held
on October 25, 2012, from 12:00 noon to
3:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
PLACE: This meeting will be open to the
public via conference call. Any
interested person may call 1–877–820–
7831, passcode, 908048 to listen and
participate in this meeting.
STATUS: Open to the public.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Unified
Carrier Registration Plan Board of
Directors (the Board) will continue its
work in developing and implementing
the Unified Carrier Registration Plan
and Agreement and to that end, may
consider matters properly before the
Board.
TIME AND DATE:
Mr.
Avelino Gutierrez, Chair, Unified
Carrier Registration Board of Directors at
(505) 827–4565.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Issued on: September 21, 2012.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator, Office of Policy,
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–25350 Filed 10–11–12; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[Docket Nos. NOR 38302S and NOR 38376S]
United States Department of Energy
and United States Department of
Defense v. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company, et al. and Aberdeen &
Rockfish Railroad Company, et al.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with
AGENCY:
Surface Transportation Board,
DOT.
Notice of Proposed Settlement
Agreement, Issuance of Procedural
Schedule.
ACTION:
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20:13 Oct 12, 2012
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On September 4, 2012, United
States Department of Energy and the
United States Department of Defense
(the Government) and BNSF Railway
Company (BNSF) (collectively
Movants), filed a motion requesting
approval of an agreement that would
settle these rate reasonableness disputes
as between them only. The Board is
adopting a procedural schedule for
filing comments and replies addressing
their proposed settlement agreement.
(As detailed below, these proceedings
involve disputes among a number of
different entities, including other
railroad carriers besides BNSF. This
settlement applies only to the parties
submitting the instant agreement and
does not resolve these proceedings in
their entirety.)
DATES: Comments are due by November
29, 2012. Reply comments are due by
December 31, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments and replies may
be submitted either via the Board’s efiling format or in the traditional paper
format. Any person using e-filing should
attach a document and otherwise
comply with the instructions at the EFILING link on the Board’s Web site, at
https://www.stb.dot.gov. Any person
submitting a filing in the traditional
paper format should send an original
and 10 copies to: Surface Transportation
Board, Attn: Docket No. NOR 38302S, et
al., 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC
20423–0001. Copies of written
comments and replies will be available
for viewing and self-copying at the
Board’s Public Docket Room, Room 131,
and will be posted to the Board’s Web
site. In addition, send one copy of
comments to each of the following: (1)
Stephen C. Skubel, Room 6H087, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20585; (2) Terrance A. Spann, U.S.
Department of Defense, 9275 Gunston
Road, Suite 1300, Fort Belvoir, VA
22060; and (3) Jill K. Mulligan, BNSF
Railway Company, 2500 Lou Menk
Drive, AOB–3, Fort Worth, TX 76131.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marc Lerner, (202) 245–0390.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is
available through the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: 1–
800–877–8339.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March
1981, the Government filed these
complaints against 21 major railroads
(the Railroad Defendants) under section
229 of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980,
Public Law 96–448, 94 Stat. 1895. The
Government sought reparations and a
rate prescription relating to the
nationwide movement of spent nuclear
fuel, other high level radioactive wastes,
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00112
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62601
and the empty containers (casks) and
buffer and escort cars used for their
movement (radioactive materials). In
1986, the Board’s predecessor, the
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC),
found that the Railroad Defendants were
engaging in an unreasonable practice,
imposing substantial and unwarranted
cost additives—above and beyond the
regular train service rates—in an effort
to avoid transporting these radioactive
materials. The ICC canceled the existing
rates and cost additives, prescribed new
rates, and awarded reparations. See
Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Aberdeen
& Rockfish R.R., 2 I.C.C.2d 642 (1986).
The United States Court of Appeals for
the D.C. Circuit set aside and remanded
the decision. See Union Pacific R.R. v.
ICC, 867 F.2d 646 (D.C. Cir. 1989). On
remand, the ICC ruled that the
movement of these radioactive materials
for reprocessing was subject to the rate
cap on recyclables set out in former 49
U.S.C. 10731(e) and directed the parties
to file revenue-to-variable cost (R/VC)
evidence to resolve the remaining
reparations and rate prescription issues.
See United States Department of Energy
v. Baltimore & Ohio R.R., 10 I.C.C.2d
112 (1994). While judicial review was
pending, Congress enacted the ICC
Termination Act of 1995, Public Law
104–88, 109 Stat. 803, which repealed
§ 10731 in its entirety and directed that
all proceedings pending under the
repealed section be terminated.
The Railroad Defendants petitioned
the Board to dismiss the complaints in
1996, and, in 1997, they invited the
Government to explore the possibility of
settling the complaints. Discussions
commenced on a nationwide settlement
covering all of the Railroad Defendants
that might carry radioactive materials.
The Government subsequently chose to
negotiate only with Union Pacific
Railroad Company (UP), the destination
carrier for most of the movements of
radioactive materials that were to be
covered by the nationwide settlement,
after the parties concluded that there
were potential antitrust problems in
negotiating with the Railroad
Defendants as a group. On September
15, 2004, the Government and UP filed
a motion seeking approval under 49
U.S.C. 10704 of a settlement agreement
(the UP Agreement) they had negotiated
to resolve these complaints as between
them only. The Board, in a decision
served in these proceedings on August
2, 2005: (1) Approved the UP
Agreement; (2) dismissed UP as a party
to these proceedings; (3) relieved UP of
any obligation to participate in these or
related proceedings involving claims
against connecting railroad defendants
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
15OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62596-62601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25261]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight
Advisory Committees
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Motor Carriers
Administration (FMCSA) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Maritime
Administration (MARAD), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHSMA), Research and Innovative Technology
Administration (RITA), St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
(SLSDC).
ACTION: Notice of Interim Guidance and Request for Comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On July 6, 2012, the President signed into law Public Law 112-
141, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).
Section 1118 of MAP-21 directs the Secretary of Transportation to
encourage each State to develop a comprehensive State Freight Plan that
outlines immediate and long-range plans for freight-related
transportation investments. Section 1117 of MAP-21 directs the
Secretary to encourage each State to establish a State Freight Advisory
Committee. The Department of Transportation is issuing this Notice to
provide Interim Guidance on both State Freight Plans and State Freight
Advisory Committees. It encourages States to develop State Freight
Plans and provides guidance to States on the required elements of a
State Freight Plan and information on funding and on the relationship
of State Freight Plans to other provisions of MAP-21. It encourages
States to develop State Freight Advisory Committees as part of the
process for developing a State Freight Plan. The Department requests
public comments on all aspects of this Interim Guidance.
DATES: All public comments must be received by November 15, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by Docket Number DOT-OST-
2012-0168 using any of the following methods:
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: https://www.regulations.gov and
follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax 1-202-493-2251.
Courier: commercial delivery service, such as, but not limited to
the following--Federal Express or United Parcel Service, addressed to
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
The Department will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information. If you
mail or hand deliver your comments and want the Department to
acknowledge receipt of your comments, include with your comments a pre-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the docket number appears. We will
stamp the date on the postcard and mail it to you.
Docket: To read background documents or comments received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov or to Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments
[[Page 62597]]
received in any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting
the comment (or signing the comment if submitted on behalf of an
association, a business, a labor union, etc.). You may review the
Department's complete Privacy Act statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit https://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
This Interim Guidance will also be posted on the Department's MAP-
21 Web site (www.dot.gov/map21).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Wells, Chief Economist, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone Number (202)
366-9224 or Email jack.wells@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background and Program Purpose
II. Policy
III. Funding
IV. Contents of State Freight Plans
V. The State Freight Planning Process
VI. Data and Analytical Resources for State Freight Planning
VII. Request for Comments
I. Background and Program Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the
implementation of Section 1118 (State Freight Plans) and Section 1117
(State Freight Advisory Committees) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in
the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Section 1118 directs the Secretary of
Transportation to encourage States to develop freight plans that are
comprehensive and that include both immediate and long-term freight
planning activities and investments. Section 1117 directs the Secretary
to encourage each State to establish a State Freight Advisory Committee
consisting of a representative cross-section of public and private
freight stakeholders. Section 1118 specifies certain minimum contents
for State Freight Plans, and states that such a plan may be developed
separate from or be incorporated into the statewide strategic long-
range transportation plan required by section 135 of title 23, United
States Code.
Section 1116 of MAP-21 (Prioritization of Projects to Improve
Freight Movement) authorizes the Secretary to increase the Federal
share payable for any project to 95 percent for projects on the
Interstate System and 90 percent for any other project if the Secretary
certifies that the project:
Demonstrates the improvement made by the project to the
efficient movement of freight (including making progress on freight
performance measures established under MAP-21) and
Is identified in a State Freight Plan developed pursuant
to section 1118.
The Federal Highway Administration will be issuing separate
guidance on the implementation of Section 1116. One purpose of this
guidance is to inform States of the freight planning process they must
undertake to qualify for the freight prioritization provisions of
Section 1116.
II. Policy
The U.S. Department of Transportation strongly encourages all
States to develop State Freight Plans. The Department believes that
freight transportation, because its effects are often regional or
national in scope, and includes freight providers that own and operate
private infrastructure, has often been more difficult for States to
incorporate into their planning process than has passenger
transportation, and that accordingly infrastructure investments and
other State policy initiatives related to freight transportation have
often received less funding and attention than passenger-related
initiatives. Because freight transportation is critical to the economic
vitality of the United States, renewed attention to safe and efficient
freight transportation can have a positive effect on the economic
growth of the United States.
State Freight Plans can identify freight transportation facilities
that are critical to each State's economic growth and give appropriate
priority to investments in such facilities. In doing so, such Plans can
enhance economic growth at both the State and National level, thus
enhancing the Nation's economic competitiveness. State Freight Plans
can also help to guide investments and other policies that will help to
achieve the Department's other strategic goals, including safety, state
of good repair, livability, and environmental sustainability. State
Freight Plans can also identify freight transportation facilities that
are critical to export movements and, by directing resources toward
improving those facilities, assist the United States in meeting the
goals of the President's National Export Initiative.
The State Freight Plan may be developed separate from or
incorporated into the statewide strategic long-range transportation
plan required by section 135 of title 23, United States Code. If the
State Freight Plan is separate from the statewide strategic long-range
transportation plan, each plan should show how the findings of the
State Freight Plan are incorporated into the statewide strategic long-
range transportation plan. If the two plans are combined, the statewide
strategic long-range transportation plan should include a separate
section focused on freight transportation, and must include the
elements specified in section 1118. Other State transportation plans,
such as State Rail Plans, are required by statute to be coordinated
with section 135 of title 23, and as a consequence the freight
component of those plans should be incorporated into the State Freight
Plan to ensure a comprehensive and system-wide planning approach.
The Department also strongly encourages all States to establish
State Freight Advisory Committees. Such Advisory Committees are an
important part of the process needed to develop a thorough State
Freight Plan. Bringing together the perspectives and knowledge of
public and private partners, including shippers, carriers, and
infrastructure owners and operators, is important to developing a
quality State Freight Plan.
The Department will be developing a multimodal National Freight
Strategic Plan in accordance with the requirements of Section 1115 of
MAP-21, and intends to rely significantly on the freight plans prepared
by the States.
III. Funding
Authorization level under MAP-21: There is no formula or
discretionary funding specifically associated with State Freight Plans
or State Freight Advisory Committees.
States may use funding allocated under the Surface Transportation
Program (23 U.S.C. 133) for developing State Freight Plans, as well as
funding under the State Planning and Research Program (23 U.S.C. 505).
They may also use carryover balances from National Highway System funds
authorized under SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(E) as in effect on the
day before enactment of MAP-21) that can be used for transportation
planning in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135 (23 U.S.C. 103 was
amended by MAP-21 section 1104, which eliminated the National Highway
System Program under section 103, and hence eliminated the funding for
planning under section 103 as amended).
IV. Contents of State Freight Plans
Section 1118 of MAP-21 requires that a State Freight Plan developed
pursuant to Section 1118 include, at a minimum, the following elements:
An identification of significant freight system trends,
needs, and issues with respect to the State;
[[Page 62598]]
A description of the freight policies, strategies, and
performance measures that will guide the freight-related transportation
investment decisions of the State;
A description of how the plan will improve the ability of
the State to meet the national freight goals established under section
167 of title 23, United States Code;
Evidence of consideration of innovative technologies and
operational strategies, including intelligent transportation systems,
that improve the safety and efficiency of freight movement;
In the case of routes on which travel by heavy vehicles
(including mining, agricultural, energy cargo or equipment, and timber
vehicles) is projected to substantially deteriorate the condition of
roadways, a description of improvements that may be required to reduce
or impede the deterioration; and
An inventory of facilities with freight mobility issues,
such as truck bottlenecks, within the State, and a description of the
strategies the State is employing to address those freight mobility
issues.
In addition to these minimum elements required by section 1118, the
Department has provided additional recommended elements based on what
States have found useful to include in freight plans that have already
been prepared, as well as on consistency with the requirements for the
National Freight Strategic Plan, found in 23 U.S.C 167(f).
State Freight Plans may be organized in any structure that works
best for individual States, as long as they cover the required
elements; however, in order to aid States in addressing the required
criteria, and to facilitate the incorporation of analysis from the
State Freight Plans into the National Freight Strategic Plan, as well
as to aid in conceptualizing the detailed issues surrounding robust
freight planning, DOT is suggesting the following structure as a
recommended model for states to follow.
1. Strategic Goals
As specified in section 1118, a State Freight Plan must include a
description of how the plan will improve the ability of the State to
meet the national freight goals established under 23 U.S.C. 167. The
following is a summary of the goals of the National Freight Policy
established in 23 U.S.C. 167:
Improving the contribution of the freight transportation
system to economic efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness;
Reducing congestion on the freight transportation system;
Improving the safety, security, and resilience of the
freight transportation system;
Improving the state of good repair of the freight
transportation system;
Using advanced technology, performance management,
innovation, competition, and accountability in operating and
maintaining the freight transportation system;
Reducing adverse environmental and community impacts of
the freight transportation system.
The Department recommends that each State Freight Plan also include a
discussion of the State's strategic goals for freight transportation.
These goals would include the goals of the National Freight Policy
summarized above, but States may also add other strategic goals. The
Department recommends that State Freight Plans indicate which goals are
most important to the State.
2. The Economic Context of Freight Transportation Planning
The Department recommends that each State Freight Plan include a
discussion of the role that freight transportation plays in the State's
overall economy. This section would identify what industries are most
important to the State, and what supply chains (including the
transportation modes that support them) are critical to the State's
industries. In particular, it would indicate what supply chains
involving the State are important to exports, whether the exports of
that State or of other States.
3. Freight Policies, Strategies, and Institutions
As specified in section 1118, a State Freight Plan must include a
discussion of the State's freight policies and strategies that will
guide the freight-related transportation investment decisions of the
State. The Department recommends that this section also discuss how
these freight policies and strategies will guide not just freight-
related transportation investment decisions of the State, but also the
broader freight improvement strategy of the State, including
operational strategies and policy changes. The Department recommends
that this discussion also:
Include the State's grant and loan programs that are
available to pay for freight-related transportation infrastructure;
Identify the State's freight-related institutions,
including transportation-related infrastructure owners and regulatory
authorities, such as the State DOT, port authorities, toll roads, and
bridge and tunnel authorities;
Explain the governance structures and funding mechanisms
for such authorities (e.g., whether the authorities are controlled by
the governor or are independent, and whether the authority has a
dedicated source of revenue);
Identify private transportation infrastructure owners,
such as railroads, terminals, pipelines, and freight transfer
facilities;
Identify statutory and constitutional constraints on
freight-related investments and policies, such as prohibitions on
spending State funds for certain kinds of freight infrastructure;
Discuss regional freight planning activities in which the
State participates, such as planning for key multi-state freight
corridors, multi-state metropolitan areas, or for other regional groups
of States; and
Set out the State's priorities in freight transportation
infrastructure development.
4. State Freight Transportation Assets
As specified in section 1118, a State Freight Plan must include an
inventory of facilities with freight mobility issues. The Department
recommends that this inventory also include a complete inventory of the
State's freight transportation assets. This would include a description
of the State's transportation infrastructure in all freight-carrying
modes, the warehousing and intermodal facilities located in the State,
and the freight gateways and corridors that are located in or that pass
through the State. MAP-21 places particular emphasis on transportation
infrastructure that is used to serve areas of the State that are
significant for energy development, mining, agriculture, and timber
production, and the Department recommends that the State Freight Plan
inventory note particularly routes that are used to move equipment for
these productive activities into those areas and for moving the output
of those productive activities out of those areas.
5. The Conditions and Performance of the State's Freight Transportation
System
As specified in section 1118, a State Freight Plan must include the
performance measures that will guide the freight-related transportation
investment decisions of the State. The Department recommends that this
discussion also include an analysis of the conditions and performance
of the State's freight transportation system. This analysis would
include the identification of bottlenecks in the
[[Page 62599]]
freight transportation system that cause delays and unreliability in
freight movements, as well as other specific locations that are in a
poor state of good repair, create safety hazards, or create other
performance problems. The National Freight Strategic Plan also is
required to include an analysis of the conditions and performance of
the national freight system, and when those measures of freight
conditions and performance are established, the Department recommends
that State Freight Plans include those measures. Until those measures
are established, however, the Department recommends that States use the
measures of condition and performance that they consider to be most
reasonable and appropriate. In general, the Department recommends that
measures of conditions and performance reflect the State's freight
transportation goals--for each goal, there would be at least one
measure of condition or performance that indicates how well the freight
transportation system is doing in achieving that goal.
The Department recommends that States use measures of conditions of
transportation infrastructure that reflect the quality of service that
this infrastructure provides to users of that infrastructure and to the
general public. Similarly, measures of the performance of the freight
transportation system would reflect the quality of freight service
provided to freight shippers and the impact of the freight
transportation system on the general public. Measures of conditions and
performance would reflect outcomes that are directly important to the
system's users and to the general public (for example, reductions in
crashes, fatalities, and injuries; reduced delay and congestion; and
reduced vehicle operating costs); The Department recommends that States
try to avoid using measures that are not of direct importance to users
and the general public (for example, miles of track or number of
bridges inspected each year).
6. Freight Forecast
Consistent with one of the required elements of the National
Freight Strategic Plan, which must be developed in consultation with
the States, the Department recommends that State Freight Plans include
a 20-year forecast of freight transportation demands, broken down by
mode of transportation and commodity classification, and showing
demands for transportation of freight coming into the State, outbound
from the State, passing through the State between outside origin and
destination points, and moving intrastate between origin and
destination points within the State. The freight forecast could draw
upon the forecast prepared by the Federal Highway Administration's
(FHWA) Office of Freight Management and Operations and on the Federal
Aviation Administration's national and airport-level forecasts of air
cargo. The FHWA forecast includes projected tonnage for each mode--
truck, rail, air (air and truck), water, and pipeline.
7. Overview of Trends, Needs, and Issues
As specified in section 1118, a State Freight Plan must identify
significant freight system trends, needs, and issues with respect to
the State. The Department recommends that this discussion also include
how emerging trends make those needs and issues of greater
significance, or how these trends affect how those needs and issues can
be addressed.
8. Strengths and Problems of the State's Freight Transportation System
The Department recommends that a State Freight Plan include an
analysis of the strengths of the State's freight system that it wishes
to preserve and the problems that it wishes to solve. This analysis
would show what the strengths of the State's freight system are that
the State wishes to build upon; it would also show in what respects the
State's freight system does not meet the State's goals, and indicate
which problems are most important for the State to address. Some of
these might include problems that the State expects to develop in the
future as a result of increasing demand for freight transportation or
other trends that the State is anticipating.
9. The State's Decision-Making Process
The Department recommends that a State Freight Plan include a
discussion of the State's decision-making process on freight
transportation improvements, including how the State conducted outreach
to stakeholders and the public and how the State prioritized the
various strategies, projects, and policy changes it considered. This
discussion would show how the State coordinated improvements to
different modes of transportation in order to achieve its goals in the
most cost-effective way. It would also discuss ways in which the State
coordinated with other States in regional freight planning efforts, and
with metropolitan areas within the State that have done freight
planning.
The Department encourages States to conduct economic analysis as
part of the State Freight Plan, including analyses of benefits and
costs of various improvements that they are considering. If economic
analysis has been conducted, the results of that analysis should be
reported in this portion of the State Freight Plan. The discussion
would show how the State compared alternative approaches to achieving
the same goal. As specified in section 1118, the discussion must also
show evidence of consideration of operational strategies (such as
congestion pricing) or innovative technologies (such as use of
intelligent transportation systems (ITS)) that improve the safety and
efficiency of freight movement. If an economic analysis is provided, it
would be particularly useful to estimate benefits and costs of each
alternative considered.
10. The State's Freight Improvement Strategy
As specified in section 1118, a State Freight Plan must include a
description of the strategies the State is employing to address freight
mobility issues. The Department recommends that this description also
include a presentation of the State's complete freight improvement
strategy, with different improvements ranked in order of priority (or
grouped into higher and lower priority groups). This presentation of
the State's freight improvement strategy would include an analysis of
how each improvement will advance the State's strategic goals, relating
to:
Capital investments;
Operational improvements, such as congestion pricing and
travel demand management;
Policy changes, including performance management,
competition, and accountability initiatives; and
Expanded use of ITS and other innovative technologies.
The strategy would also include:
An analysis of how proposed improvements will affect
specific supply chains and industries that have been identified as
important to the State in Section 2;
Because MAP-21 places particular emphasis on
infrastructure that is used for transporting mining, agricultural,
energy, and timber equipment and products, a discussion of how those
freight transportation routes would be affected (and in particular how
the strategy would impede the deterioration in the condition of
infrastructure on those routes);
An analysis of the improvements in outcomes that are
expected to result from the proposed freight improvements;
A discussion of how the freight plan relates to other
transportation
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plans, such as a state rail plan, a long-range statewide transportation
plan, or a metropolitan area freight plan; and
A discussion of how the State's Freight Improvement Strategy
coordinates with plans of other adjacent States, including groups of
States that work together to plan for freight transportation along key
multi-state freight corridors, in multi-state metropolitan areas, or
through other regional groupings.
11. Implementation Plan
Finally, the Department recommends that a State Freight Plan
include a comprehensive implementation plan, showing both short-term
and long-term strategies, and including an approximate time schedule
for each proposed freight improvement. This implementation plan would
include an analysis of which capital improvements have the potential to
generate a revenue stream, and hence which projects have the potential
to be funded with loans (repaid from the revenue stream) rather than
solely through grants or general funds. The Plan would include a
funding plan, showing how each project will be funded, including those
funded by grants, loans, and public-private partnerships. The Plan
would discuss the State's proposed partnerships with private
infrastructure owners, such as railroads, terminal operators, and
pipeline companies. Finally, the Plan would discuss how the State
proposes to work with adjacent States on projects that cross State
lines, or on freight corridors that cross State lines (even if the
project itself is all in one State).
V. The State Freight Planning Process
The Department recommends that States use a collaborative process
for freight planning that involves all of the relevant stakeholders
affected by the freight transportation system. These stakeholders would
include owners of freight transportation infrastructure (both public
and private); carriers operating on publicly-owned freight
infrastructure; shippers and freight forwarders; representatives of
employees of these stakeholders; State, local, and tribal governments;
and the general public. Stakeholders might be domiciled both inside the
State and outside of the State.
States are strongly encouraged to establish State Freight Advisory
Committees to facilitate this collaborative process. As specified in
section 1117 of MAP-21, State Freight Advisory Committees should
include representatives of a cross-section of public and private sector
experts and stakeholders. These might include representatives of:
The transportation department of the State;
Metropolitan planning organizations, councils of
government, regional councils, and other regional and planning
organizations;
Local and tribal governments;
Independent transportation authorities, such as seaport
and airport authorities, toll highway authorities, and bridge and
tunnel authorities;
Private infrastructure owners, such as railroads and
pipelines;
Carriers, including carriers operating on their own
infrastructure and carriers operating on publicly-owned infrastructure;
Shippers and freight forwarders;
Freight-related associations;
Organizations representing the freight industry workforce;
Environmental, safety, and community organizations; and
Independent transportation experts, including academic
specialists and consultants.
State Freight Advisory Committees should be charged with
Advising the State on freight-related priorities, issues,
projects, and funding needs;
Serving as a forum for discussion of State decisions
affecting freight transportation;
Communicating and coordinating regional priorities with
other organizations;
Promoting the sharing of information between the private
and public sectors on freight issues; and
Participating in the development of the State's Freight
Plan.
VI. Data and Analytical Resources for State Freight Planning
The modal administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation
and other departments in the U.S. Government can provide a wide range
of data and analysis to assist States in the freight planning process.
The following is a series of links to internet Web sites that provide
useful data and analysis resources:
General Data and Analysis Sources on Freight
Commodity Flow Survey: https://www.bts.gov/publications/commodity_flow_survey/
Data Sources Related to Freight Transportation: https://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/data_sources/index.htm
Freight Analysis Framework: https://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/faf/index.htm
Freight Performance Measures: https://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/travel_time.htm
Quick Response Freight Manual: https://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/qrfm2/index.htm
Maritime Statistics
USA Trade Online (The Official Source for U.S. Merchandise Trade
Data), U.S. Census Bureau: https://www.usatradeonline.gov/
Navigation Data Center, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers: https://www.ndc.iwr.usace.army.mil/wcsc/wcsc.htm
Navigation Data Center, Vessel Entrances and Clearances, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers: https://www.ndc.iwr.usace.army.mil/data/dataclen.htm
Maritime Statistics, U.S. Maritime Administration: https://www.marad.dot.gov/library_landing_page/data_and_statistics/Data_and_Statistics.htm
Marview Statistics, U.S. Maritime Administration: www.marview.gov/
Rail Freight Resources and Statistics
The Preliminary National Rail Plan: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RailPlanPrelim10-15.pdf
The National Rail Plan Progress Report: https://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/NRP_Sept2010_WEB.pdf
The Proposed State Rail Plan Guidance: https://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/fp_Proposed_State_Rail_Plan_Guidance.shtml
Comparative Evaluation of Rail and Truck Fuel Efficiency on
Competitive Corridors: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/Comparative_Evaluation_Rail_Truck_Fuel_Efficiency.pdf
Discussion of the confidential Carload Waybill Sample and State
access: https://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_waybill.html
National Transportation Atlas Database includes FRA rail network:
https://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_atlas_database/
Online highway rail grade crossing investment analysis tool: https://gradedec.fra.dot.gov/
Interactive mapping application that allows users to view aspects of
railroad infrastructure: https://fragis.frasafety.net/GISFRASafety/default.aspx
Air Freight Statistics
FAA Air Cargo forecasts: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/aviation_forecasts/aerospace_forecasts/2012-2032/
Click on ``Forecast Tables, US Commercial and Foreign Flag
Carriers, Tables 5-23.'' Cargo forecasts are Tables 19 and 20.
VII. Request for Comments
DOT invites interested parties to submit comments on any aspect of
the Department's implementation of MAP-21 requirements for State
Freight Plans or State Freight Advisory Committees. The Department will
consider these comments as it continues to implement the freight
provisions of the law. The instructions for submitting comments can be
found in the Addresses section above. Late-filed comments will be
considered to the extent practicable.
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Issued in Washington, DC, on October 5, 2012.
Ray LaHood,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-25261 Filed 10-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
