HRTPO and Urban Freight R/R Operations Robert B. Case, PE, Principal Transportation Engineer

HRTPO Involvement in Freight Rail

1. Recommendations for reducing conflict between rail and highways

2. Reporting rail needs developed by others3. Promoting the consideration of freight4. Promoting projects which help freight rail

HRTPO Involvement in Freight Rail

1. Recommendations for reducing conflict between rail and highways

2. Reporting rail needs developed by others3. Promoting the consideration of freight4. Promoting projects which help freight rail

Suffolk Rail Impact Study (2007)

• Purpose– To analyze the effects of increasing rail traffic

through Suffolk on mobility and safety of its citizens

– To provide the City with options to reduce the impacts

Traffic Impact of an Inland Port in Hampton Roads (2011)

• Purpose:– To examine the impacts

an inland port located on the western edge of Hampton Roads would have on regional highway congestion.

HRTPO Involvement in Freight Rail

1. Recommendations for reducing conflict between rail and highways

2. Reporting rail needs developed by others3. Promoting the consideration of freight4. Promoting projects which help freight rail

Regional Freight Study (2007)

• Purpose– To identify, develop, and

evaluate transportation strategies to improve the movement of goods.

Future Needs for Rail

• Heartland Corridor Project• Commonwealth Railway Line

Purchase• APM Terminals Rail Yard Expansion• Suffolk Connection from CSX to

Commonwealth Railway• Portsmouth Subdivision Height

Clearances• Intermodal Improvements- Crewe

to Suffolk• Double Stack Clearance

Improvements for CSX

HRTPO Involvement in Freight Rail

1. Recommendations for reducing conflict between rail and highways

2. Reporting rail needs developed by others3. Promoting the consideration of freight4. Promoting projects which help freight rail

Freight Transportation Advisory Committee (FTAC)

• Purpose– To advise the HRTPO Board re freight– To raise awareness of importance of freight– To collect public input re freight

FTAC Membership

• Butch Crane, K-Line America• Keith Helton, Givens Transportation• Ron Drogan, CrossGlobe Group• Bill Bell, Northrop Grumman• Chris Luebbers, Norfolk Southern• Art Moye, Va. Maritime Assoc.• Curtis Hall, Target• Brien Craft, Wal-Mart Distribution

FTAC Activities

• Co-sponsored inaugural Virginia Freight Transportation Summit

• Produced “A Region United” video promoting the importance of freight movement to Hampton Roads citizens.

HRTPO Involvement in Freight Rail

1. Recommendations for reducing conflict between rail and highways

2. Reporting rail needs developed by others3. Promoting the consideration of freight4. Promoting projects which help freight rail

Prioritization Tool

• Used for selecting projects for HRTPO Long-Range Transportation Plan – from which all capacity-building highway and

transit projects must be selected

• Rail– Candidate intermodal projects are given points

for “Improves Freight Movement by Rail”

Regional Performance Measures

• Purpose– To set targets and determine progress thereby

informing selection of projects

• Measures include:– Rail Mode Share, freight w/ local origins– Rail Mode Share, freight w/ local destinations

– Targets for these: