Duluth-Superior Landside Port Access Study Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Committee January 2000 Duluth-Superior Landside Port Access Study February 2000 Prepared by the: Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Committee Duluth Superior urban area communities cooperating in planning and development through a joint venture of the: Arrowhead Regional Development Commission and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission Northwest REGIONAL Planning COMMISSION an economic development district This study was funded through the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Committee with funding from the: Federal Highway Administration Minnesota Department of Transportation Wisconsin Department of Transportation Arrowhead Regional Development Commission Northwest Regional Planning Commission Copies of the study are available from the: Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Committee 221 West 1st Street, Duluth, MN 55802 Table of Contents Introduction........................................................................................................................1 Port Road System...............................................................................................................4 Port Roadway and Condition Inventory ..............................................................................4 Roadway Condition Analysis Results..................................................................................5 National Highway System ...................................................................................................9 National Highway System Connectors ..............................................................................12 Truck Routes......................................................................................................................12 Over-Size Load Truck Route.............................................................................................13 Port Facility Access ...........................................................................................................17 Port Rail System...............................................................................................................19 Rail Companies..................................................................................................................19 National Rail Connections .................................................................................................23 Rail Yards ..........................................................................................................................24 Rail Service to Port Facilities ............................................................................................25 Port User Survey..............................................................................................................32 Land Use ...........................................................................................................................33 Duluth-Superior Port Economic Impact .......................................................................36 Direct, Indirect and Induced Impacts.................................................................................36 Location Quotients.............................................................................................................37 Taxes..................................................................................................................................38 Recommendations............................................................................................................39 West Duluth/Oneota/West End..........................................................................................39 Rices Point .........................................................................................................................40 Canal Park/Park Point........................................................................................................41 North Superior ...................................................................................................................41 East Superior Allouez ........................................................................................................42 Entire Port Area .................................................................................................................43 Appendices........................................................................................................................44 Data Dictionary – Duluth & Superior Port Road Inventory ..............................................45 Duluth Port Road Inventory...............................................................................................48 Superior Port Road Inventory ............................................................................................50 Port User Survey................................................................................................................52 Port User Index ..................................................................................................................54 Data Dictionary – Duluth-Superior Port Facilities ............................................................56 Duluth-Superior Port Facilities..........................................................................................58 List of Maps Map 1 - Study Area..............................................................................................................2 Map 2 - Road Condition ......................................................................................................6 Map 3 - National Highway System Routes........................................................................10 Map 4 - Truck Routes ........................................................................................................14 Map 5 - Rices Point............................................................................................................18 Map 6 - Duluth-Superior Railroads ..................................................................................20 Map 7 - Port Facilities........................................................................................................30 Map 8 - Port Area Land Use..............................................................................................34 Recommendation Maps Map 9 - Landside Port Access – Geographic Areas ..........................................................39 Map 10 - Waseca Industrial Area ......................................................................................40 Map 11 - North Superior....................................................................................................41 Map 12 - North Superior NHS Connectors........................................................................42 Map 13 - Water Street........................................................................................................42 Duluth-Superior Landside Port Access Study of the Landside Port Access Study is to Introduction examine the land based access to the port of Duluth-Superior. Roadway and rail The Duluth-Superior port handles almost 40 connections are examined in the study to million tons of cargo per year. As identify impediments and deficiencies. approximately 90% of this cargo is iron ore, Strategies are recommended to correct or coal and grain, Duluth-Superior ranks as one reduce those problems. of the top bulk ports in the The authority for nation. Bulk making commodity improvements in shipping is a the port area highly often resides competitive with local, state, business. Ports and federal unable to offer transportation efficient agencies rather loading and than the port unloading risk authority. Many losing business port area projects to ports that must compete offer these with other facilities. In priorities for the Duluth- limited funding. Superior area, Port area most bulk handling facilities are privately jurisdictions often have to choose between owned and operated. The shipping lines, roadway, transit, safety and port railroads, and companies that own these improvement projects when deciding where facilities have invested to increase the to invest limited transportation funds. Local efficiency of loading and unloading governments are being asked to bear much operations. With most bulk commodities of the costs of resolving access problems for relatively low value per ton, transportation their ports when many of the benefits of costs make up a larger share of the total cost these improvements are not as visible as than containerized and other cargo. This new local roads or transit facilities. Local increases the importance on total port jurisdictions must consider the economic efficiency. The efficiency of the port impacts when making decisions about depends on the landside connections to the investing in port activities. The general port facilities. public cannot always see the value in an efficient and effective port. Communication Freight movement by water is the one mode among various units of government will of transport that truly relies on intermodal provide opportunities to better ensure that activity. Goods moved by ship almost local transportation needs are balanced with always need a second mode of the benefits of providing efficient landside transportation, usually truck or train, to get port access. them to their final destinations. It is important that there is direct access for these modes into the port facilities. The purpose 1 Duluth-Superior