FAST CorridorFAST CorridorFreight Action Strategy for Freight Action Strategy for

Everett-Seattle-TacomaEverett-Seattle-Tacoma

Steve SewellSteve Sewell

Parsons BrinckerhoffParsons Brinckerhoff

What is it?What is it? A $500 million investmentA $500 million investment A series of improvements separating A series of improvements separating

vehicular and rail trafficvehicular and rail traffic A success!A success!

What Does it Do?What Does it Do? Moves the Nation’s freight through a Moves the Nation’s freight through a

major trade corridormajor trade corridor Fixes freight and general traffic Fixes freight and general traffic

bottlenecksbottlenecks Increases the competitiveness of Puget Increases the competitiveness of Puget

Sound PortsSound Ports Creates and maintains jobs and Creates and maintains jobs and

economic healtheconomic health

What Does it Do?What Does it Do? Increases train speed, which increases Increases train speed, which increases

capacitycapacity Reduces traffic congestion at at grade rail Reduces traffic congestion at at grade rail

crossingscrossings

What Does it Do?What Does it Do?

Before

After

The SituationThe Situation Ports of Seattle and Tacoma Ports of Seattle and Tacoma

losing container market share losing container market share to Southern California and to Southern California and Vancouver, B.C.Vancouver, B.C.

““Freight Mobility” one of Freight Mobility” one of many factorsmany factors

Threat to regional Threat to regional competitivenesscompetitiveness

Container cargo a little known Container cargo a little known lifeline: “Freight doesn’t vote”lifeline: “Freight doesn’t vote”

What did we do?What did we do?

Three part strategy:Three part strategy: EducateEducate CollaborateCollaborate LegislateLegislate

EducateEducate

Importance of ports and cargo to the Importance of ports and cargo to the region’s economyregion’s economy

Importance to the national economyImportance to the national economy The risk of doing nothingThe risk of doing nothing

Importance to Washington StateImportance to Washington State One of three jobs relies on One of three jobs relies on

international tradeinternational trade One-third of state’s One-third of state’s

agricultural products; e.g., agricultural products; e.g., hay, cherries, apples, are hay, cherries, apples, are exportedexported

You get a “twofer”- You get a “twofer”- improved traffic flowsimproved traffic flows– Improve safetyImprove safety– Eliminate bottlenecks, Eliminate bottlenecks,

streamline trafficstreamline traffic– Mitigate impact of freight Mitigate impact of freight

and traffic growthand traffic growth

Importance to the NationImportance to the Nation Second…no third…largest container load center in the U.S.Second…no third…largest container load center in the U.S. Asian imports are more than 90%--Asia to comprise 45% of Asian imports are more than 90%--Asia to comprise 45% of

world trade by 2015world trade by 2015 More than 70% More than 70%

of imports of imports through the Puget through the Puget Sound destined Sound destined for Chicago and for Chicago and beyondbeyond

Jobs across the Jobs across the nation rely on nation rely on these importsthese imports

Collaborate=the KEYCollaborate=the KEY

Build Consensus on project prioritiesBuild Consensus on project priorities Truly a partnership—i.e, all take part in risk Truly a partnership—i.e, all take part in risk

and rewardand reward Partners include the State, the three ports, Partners include the State, the three ports,

the Federal Government, local the Federal Government, local municipalities, and two railroads (BNSF municipalities, and two railroads (BNSF and UP)and UP)

A lot of work…saved a lot at the next stepA lot of work…saved a lot at the next step

CollaborateCollaborate

Freight Mobility RoundtableFreight Mobility Roundtable– Public/Private Group sponsored by the local Public/Private Group sponsored by the local

MPOMPO– Participants include: Shippers, ocean rail and Participants include: Shippers, ocean rail and

road carriers, logistics providers, ports, EDC’s, road carriers, logistics providers, ports, EDC’s, local, state and Federal government…even local, state and Federal government…even consultants.consultants.

– An important forumAn important forum

Legislate: The StateLegislate: The State We scared ‘emWe scared ‘em

– Alameda CorridorAlameda Corridor– Job impactJob impact– State competitivenessState competitiveness

We made it easy on ‘emWe made it easy on ‘em– Benefits for the whole stateBenefits for the whole state– Consensus made this the state’s No.1 priority Consensus made this the state’s No.1 priority

for Federal fundingfor Federal funding Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Freight Mobility Strategic Investment

Board Board

Legislate: The Other WashingtonLegislate: The Other Washington

Again, no regional disputesAgain, no regional disputes Our delegation “got it”Our delegation “got it” Bud Shuster and “The Port of Bud Shuster and “The Port of

Chicago”Chicago” The “Borders and Corridors” programThe “Borders and Corridors” program

The ResultThe Result

A $500 million corridor, A $500 million corridor, through which trade can through which trade can flow and traffic moveflow and traffic move

The ResultThe Result

Costs shared by partnersCosts shared by partners Original Plan:Original Plan: State:State: 50%50% Feds:Feds: 25%25% Ports:Ports: 10%10% Local:Local: 10%10% RR’s:RR’s: 5%5% Negotiated adjustments based on changesNegotiated adjustments based on changes

The ResultThe Result Ten of 15 projects Ten of 15 projects

complete or nearly complete or nearly completecomplete

CompleteComplete Under ConstructionUnder Construction Remainder Remainder

completed by ’06completed by ’06

What’s Next?What’s Next? FAST Phase IIFAST Phase II

– ConsensusConsensus– Ten more projects Ten more projects – >$260 million>$260 million– Jobs and Opportunities!!Jobs and Opportunities!!

Thank YouThank You