Megaregion Freight Planning: a Synopsis August 2011; Revised March 2012 6

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Megaregion Freight Planning: a Synopsis August 2011; Revised March 2012 6 Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA/TX-11/0-6627-1 Accession No. 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Megaregion Freight Planning: A Synopsis August 2011; Revised March 2012 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. CTR: Robert Harrison, Donovan Johnson, Lisa Loftus-Otway, 0-6627-1 Nathan Hutson, Dan Seedah, Ming Zhang TSU: Carol Lewis 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Center for Transportation Research 11. Contract or Grant No. The University of Texas at Austin 0-6627 1616 Guadalupe Street, Suite 4.202 Austin, TX 78701 Texas Southern University Department of Transportation Studies TB 125, College of Science & Technology 3100 Cleburne Avenue Houston, Texas 77004-9986 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Technical Report Research and Technology Implementation Office September 2010–August 2011 P.O. Box 5080 Austin, TX 78763-5080 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes Project performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. 16. Abstract Megaregion interest has grown strongly in the last decade and is now seen by a growing number of planners as offering effective contributions to problems such as modal congestion, development disparity, and air pollution that individual metropolitan areas or cities cannot resolve individually. Megaregion planning presents an alternative way of mitigating metropolitan problems of large-scale transportation systems, green infrastructure, and economic development and has attracted a number of transportation advocates since 2000. Central questions addressed in this report include how this approach might change freight planning in Texas, what benefits and costs are associated with its adoption, and what characteristics might be of specific interest to TxDOT. The work was structured to give the Department a comprehensive literature review, take directions of interest from the Project Monitoring Committee, undertake preliminary analysis, and present these to a workshop audience comprising TxDOT planners, Metropolitan Planning Organization staff, transportation providers, public transit agencies, and federal officials. A major recommendation is a program of future work that complements TxDOT freight planning, especially at the state transportation planning level. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Megaregions, Freight, State Planning, Modes No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161; www.ntis.gov. 19. Security Classif. (of report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 138 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized Megaregion Freight Planning: A Synopsis CTR Robert Harrison Donovan Johnson Lisa Loftus-Otway Nathan Hutson Dan Seedah Ming Zhang TSU Carol Lewis CTR Technical Report: 0-6627-1 Report Date: October 2011; Revised March 2012 Project: 0-6627 Project Title: Mega-Region Freight Issues in Texas: A Synopsis Sponsoring Agency: Texas Department of Transportation Performing Agency: Center for Transportation Research at The University of Texas at Austin Project performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Center for Transportation Research The University of Texas at Austin 1616 Guadalupe Street, Suite 4.202 Austin, TX 78701 www.utexas.edu/research/ctr Copyright (c) 2011 Center for Transportation Research The University of Texas at Austin All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America iv Disclaimers Author's Disclaimer: The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the Federal Highway Administration or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Patent Disclaimer: There was no invention or discovery conceived or first actually reduced to practice in the course of or under this contract, including any art, method, process, machine manufacture, design or composition of matter, or any new useful improvement thereof, or any variety of plant, which is or may be patentable under the patent laws of the United States of America or any foreign country. Engineering Disclaimer NOT INTENDED FOR CONSTRUCTION, BIDDING, OR PERMIT PURPOSES. Research Supervisor: Robert Harrison v Acknowledgments The CTR/TSU team wishes to acknowledge the assistance provided by a variety of individuals who spent time providing advice, information, and opinions on this topic. The Texas workshops played an important part in focusing on the key elements that might enable TxDOT to improve its statewide transportation planning. The study Project Director Jack Foster P.E (TPP) was central to maintaining that TxDOT planning focus while Dr. Duncan Stewart (RTI) actively participated in workshops and kept the team running of schedule. The TxDOT PMC members are commended for both participating in project meetings and attending the key Houston workshop when findings were presented and recommendations framed. The PMC members were John Sabala, ADM; Joseph Carrizales, AUS; and Orlando Jamandre, RRD. We would also like to acknowledge the assistance provided by individuals working in or impacted by megaregion issues as researchers, planners, or transportation specialists at MPO, state and federal levels. These include Chandra Bondzie, Lead Planner Freight, Houston Galveston Area Council; Greg Brubeck, Director of Engineering Services, Port of Corpus Christi Authority; Maureen Crocker, Executive Director, Gulf Coast Rail District; Charlie DeWeese, The Hon. Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge; Kevin Feldt, Program Manager, North Central Texas Council of Governments; Les Findeisen, Director Government Affairs, Texas Motor Transportation Association; Dr. Jonathan Gifford, Dean of Research, George Mason School of Public Policy; Rebekah Karasko, Transportation Planner North Central Texas Council of Governments; Michael Kramer, Assistant Director, Planning and Development, City of Houston; Howard Lazarus, Director of Public Works City of Austin, Neil Maxfield, Managing Director Asset Development Denver International Airport; Saud Memon, ARUP; Regina Minish, Marketing Director BNSF Railroad; Margaret Shaw, Economic Development Officer City of Austin; Clint Schelbitzi, Director of Public Affairs UP Railroad; Rob Spillar, Director Transportation Planning, City of Austin; Charles “Muggs” Stoll, Transportation Director San Diego Association of Governments, Petra Todorovich, Director America 2050, and Lily Wells, Port of Houston Authority. Finally, we wish to acknowledge the assistance of Sarah Lind Janak (CTR) who provided substantial help in administering the project and workshops, together with Maureen Kelly (CTR), who edited the final document. vi Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Introduction and Background .................................................................................. 3 1.1 Current Delineations of Megaregions ....................................................................................4 1.1.1 America 2050 ................................................................................................................. 4 1.1.2 Lang and Dhavale .......................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3 Florida ............................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2. Domestic and International Scan ............................................................................. 9 2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................9 2.2 North American Megaregions Scan .....................................................................................10 2.2.1 California—Northern and Southern Megaregions ....................................................... 10 2.2.2 Front Range .................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.3 Cascadia ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.4 Midwest (Great Lakes) ................................................................................................ 15 2.2.5 Piedmont Atlantic ........................................................................................................ 15 2.2.6 Northeast ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.7 Arizona Sun Corridor ................................................................................................... 17 2.2.8 Florida .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.9 Texas Triangle and Gulf Coast .................................................................................... 18 2.2.10 The
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