Skip to content
Version 1.3
Login
Workspace > SPR-08 Freight and Goods Access & Mobility (for Regions)

Criterion Details

SPR-08 Freight and Goods Access & Mobility (for Regions)

PDF IconDownload as pdf

Goal

Implement a transportation plan that meets freight access and mobility needs while also supporting triple bottom line sustainability principles.

Sustainability Linkage

Triple Bottom Line

Planning for freight and goods movement benefits all of the triple bottom line principles by supporting economic prosperity through improved freight efficiency and reliability, reducing fuel consumption and related emissions, and reducing adverse impacts of freight on communities.

Background & Scoring Requirements

Background

This criterion is related to SPR-05: Access and Affordability. This criterion includes a focus on access for freight and goods, while SPR-05 includes a focus on access for people.

For the purposes of this criterion, the key terms are defined as follows:

  • “Engage” means to successfully involve and interact with an institution or stakeholder.
  • “Institutional mechanisms” refers to an agreed-upon, two-way communication process for sharing information and collecting feedback.
  • “Planning Process” is a series of steps taken early in a project life cycle or decision-making process to define solutions for an issue or multiple issues (common examples include system-level plans and policies, long-range transportation plans, statewide plans, corridor plans, facility plans, area plans). A planning process typically contains the following steps: establish the plan purpose; develop goals, objectives, evaluation criteria, and performance measures and targets; analyze existing conditions; determine needs (based on scenarios or trends); develop and evaluate options; set priorities; develop a funding program; develop the plan; implement and monitor effectiveness of the plan.
  • “Regularly” Early, often, and on an on-going basis throughout the planning process.
  • Freight stakeholders include shippers, carriers, third party logistics providers, facility operators, governments, universities and communities near freight facilities.

Sustainable Freight System

A more sustainable freight system provides convenient access to goods and markets, allows for multiple freight modes, reduces congestion on roadways, and reduces freight inefficiencies and adverse impacts on communities (noise, emissions, vibrations, etc.).

Examples of goods movement issues that may be considered in a regional transportation planning context are described below:

  • Freight Mobility Study: A region may conduct a comprehensive, systems-level mobility study specifically addressing freight movement needs, issues, and potential solutions. The Region identifies key freight bottlenecks and examines quality of truck access to intermodal terminals, and uses data and tools to evaluate alternative solutions. The Region engages freight and other stakeholders throughout the study.
  • Reliability Analysis: A Region may conduct an analysis that examines key routes to understand where there are issues with travel time reliability, and during what time periods (peak hour, mid-day, etc.) these issues occur. Solutions could then be focused on the most critical locations.
  • Addressing Intersection Improvements near or in an Industrial Park/Area. A region may identify key intersections close to or within key industrial areas/industrial parks that are problematic for freight due to delay or geometry. Working with a variety of stakeholders, the region may develop solutions to ease access in and out of key industrial areas.

Mobility and Access

Mobility and access are both important for freight movement. Mobility relates to the ability and efficiency of moving goods from Point A to Point B. Access relates to the ability and ease of transferring goods (e.g. ability and ease of getting to a Port; ability and ease for producers to access transport opportunities for their goods).  

Scoring Requirements

To achieve points, the agency must demonstrate that it has evaluated or improved freight mobility, reliability, and/or intermodal freight connections. Agencies can earn points according to the following; each of the scoring options is independent and can be achieved without prerequisites:

Requirement SPR-08.1

1-2 points. Develop Goals and Objectives

Scoring for this requirement is based on the following, cumulative requirements:

  • Requirement SPR-08.1a

1 points. Consider Freight Access Goals

The agency includes in the LRTP or other appropriate plan (e.g. a freight rail plan) specific goals for maintaining and improving freight reliability and connectivity between modes and to freight generators for both inter- and intra-city freight, in ways that enhance sustainability (e.g., improve safety and fuel economy and/or reduce noise and emissions). Examples include systematic elimination of bottlenecks through infrastructure investments, using technology to ease port access, and anti-idling goals.

  • Requirement SPR-08.1b

1 points. Consider Freight Mobility Goals

The agency considers multimodal freight mobility needs (aviation, marine, rail, interstate, pipeline, and intermodal) in the planning process. Freight mobility goals (such as freight reliability) and evaluation criteria are included when developing the program or plan.

Requirement SPR-08.2

2-3 points. Engage Stakeholders

Scoring for this requirement is based on the following, cumulative requirements. The first requirement must be accomplished to earn the second.

  • Requirement SPR-08.2a

2 points. Engage a Variety of Stakeholders

The agency regularly engages a variety of freight stakeholders in creating plans and programs. This helps to ensure the transportation system supports freight movement and sustainable economic activity as appropriate. The State would develop a stakeholder involvement plan.

  • Requirement SPR-08.2b

1 additional point. Utilize Institutional Mechanisms

The agency utilizes institutional mechanisms to facilitate the engagement. Examples of institutional mechanisms include freight representatives serving on a decision-making board or advisory committee. The decision-makers may use freight model data or use freight mobility or access as a criterion for solution prioritization in a planning process.

Requirement SPR-08.3

2 or 4 points. Develop Performance Measures and Monitor Progress

Scoring for this requirement is based on the following, cumulative requirements:

  • Requirement SPR-08.3a

2 points. Include Freight Access Performance Measures

The agency includes and monitors sustainability-related freight access performance measures in planning documents (e.g. intermodal connections or linkages to freight generators).

  • Requirement SPR-08.3b

2 points. Include Freight Mobility Performance Measures

The agency includes and monitors sustainability-related freight mobility performance measures (e.g. truck delay, travel time reliability, other national, state, or regional freight goals) in planning documents. Other examples of performance measures can be found in NCHRP Report 708: A Guidebook for Sustainability Performance Measurement for Transportation Agencies1.

Requirement SPR-08.4

2-6 points. Demonstrate Sustainable Outcomes/Implementation

Scoring for this requirement is based on the following, cumulative requirements:

  • Requirement SPR-08.4a

2 points. Freight Access - Provide for Planning, Evaluating, Maintaining, and Improving Intermodal Freight Connections and Linkages to Freight Generators

Intermodal freight connectors are the public roads leading to major intermodal terminals. Although they account for less than 1 percent of National Highway System mileage, they are key conduits for the timely and reliable delivery of goods. The agency provides for planning, evaluating, maintaining, and improving intermodal freight connectors and linkages to freight generators at all levels (interstate, state, and local). Measures and criteria to encourage coordination among the freight modes (e.g., rail, port, airport, and other) in ways that enhance sustainability are included.

  • Requirement SPR-08.4b

2 points. Provide for Planning, Evaluating, Maintaining and Improving Freight Mobility

Freight mobility can be measured in a variety of ways, including reliability, travel time, through-put or volumes. The agency provides for planning, evaluating, maintaining and enhancing freight mobility utilizing appropriate quantitative measures and monitoring for freight modes.

  • Requirement SPR-08.4c

2 points. Monitor Progress and Demonstrate Sustainable Outcomes

Monitor progress towards goals for at least one year after goal establishment using the performance measures established in SPR-08.3a and SPR-08.3b and show measurable advancement towards stated goals.

Resources

The following resources are referenced in this criterion and consolidated here:

  1. NCHRP, Report 708: A Guidebook for Sustainability Performance Measurement for Transportation Agencies at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_708.pdf

Case Studies & Criterion Examples

Arizona DOT - Sonoran Corridor Study: In February 2017, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) initiated an environmental review process for the Sonoran Corridor, which would connect Interstate 19 and Interstate 10 south of the Tucson International Airport. A Corridor Selection Report (CSR) and Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were prepared as part of this process in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other regulatory requirements. The project objective is to identify an appropriate and approximate 2000-foot corridor for a future roadway that would be subject to a detailed design and a Tier 2 environmental review to identify a final roadway alignment and necessary project mitigation treatments. At the direction of ADOT, this case study evaluates processes and methodologies used for development of the Sonoran Corridor Tier 1 EIS compared to INVEST guiding principles.

Scoring Sources

The program is considered to have met this criterion if the requirements above can be reasonably substantiated through the existence of one or more of the following documentation sources (or equal where not available):

  1. A stakeholder involvement/public involvement plan or a similar description of the efforts used to engage the freight community in creating regional transportation plans and programs.
  2. Documentation of freight mobility goals, objectives, and policies.
  3. A freight section in plans (or a freight plan) that includes freight performance measures and implementation strategies/actions.
  4. Plan and program recommendations that address sustainable freight and goods movement best practices.