GREATER CHARLOTTE REGIONAL FREIGHT MOBILITY PLAN APPENDIX B EXISTING CONDITIONS Prepared for: Prepared by: December 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background and Purpose .................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Regional Collaboration ....................................................................................................... 1-1 2. Regional Freight Planning ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization ...................................................... 2-2 2.1.1 Truck Freight .......................................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.2 Rail Freight ............................................................................................................. 2-2 2.2 Charlotte Region Transportation Planning Organization ................................................... 2-2 2.2.1 Freight Related Goals and Objectives .................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Current Freight Statistics for Charlotte Region ..................................................... 2-3 2.2.3 Statewide Freight Planning Initiatives that Affect the CRTPO Region ................... 2-8 2.3 Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization ...................................... 2-10 2.3.1 GCLMPO 2040 MTP Freight-Related Goals and Objectives ................................. 2-10 2.3.2 Trucking ............................................................................................................... 2-11 2.3.3 Freight Rail ........................................................................................................... 2-12 2.3.4 Aviation ................................................................................................................ 2-12 2.3.5 Freight-Related Projects ...................................................................................... 2-13 2.4 Rocky River Regional Planning Organization .................................................................... 2-13 2.4.1 Stanly County (Comprehensive Transportation Plan, 2012) ............................... 2-13 2.4.2 Anson County (Comprehensive Transportation Plan, 2012) ............................... 2-13 2.5 Rock Hill-Fort Mill Area Transportation Study .................................................................. 2-13 2.5.1 RFATS 2035 LRTP Freight-related Highway System Goal .................................... 2-14 2.5.2 RFATS 2035 LRTP Freight Element Summary ...................................................... 2-14 2.5.3 RFATS 2035 LRTP Freight Recommendations ...................................................... 2-18 3. Freight Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Goal 1: Economic Competitiveness and Efficiency ............................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Goal 2: Safety and Security ................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2.1 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.3 Goal 3: Infrastructure Preservation and Maintenance ....................................................... 3-1 3.3.1 Objective ................................................................................................................ 3-2 3.4 Goal 4: Environmental Stewardship ................................................................................... 3-2 3.4.1 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3-2 3.5 Goal 5: Congestion and Reliability ...................................................................................... 3-2 3.5.1 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3-2 3.6 Goal 6: Performance and Accountability ............................................................................ 3-2 GREATER CHARLOTTE REGIONAL FREIGHT MOBILITY PLAN i Appendix B – Existing Conditions • Table of Contents 3.6.1 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3-2 3.7 Goal 7: Regional Coordination ............................................................................................ 3-2 3.7.1 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3-2 4. Stakeholder Outreach .......................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Coordinating Committee .................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Steering Committee ............................................................................................................ 4-1 4.3 Interviews ........................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.4 Surveys ................................................................................................................................ 4-6 4.5 Freight Advisory Committee ............................................................................................... 4-6 5. Freight Trends and Issues ..................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 National Trends and Issues ................................................................................................. 5-1 5.1.1 Panama Canal ........................................................................................................ 5-1 5.1.2 Freight Oriented Development .............................................................................. 5-1 5.1.3 Alternate Transportation Fuels .............................................................................. 5-1 5.1.4 Air Quality and Regulation ..................................................................................... 5-2 5.1.5 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) ............................................................... 5-2 5.1.6 Climate Volatility.................................................................................................... 5-3 5.1.7 Dedicated Freight Infrastructure ........................................................................... 5-3 5.1.8 Connected and Autonomous Vehicles................................................................... 5-3 5.1.9 E-Commerce and Drone Home Delivery ................................................................ 5-4 5.1.10 Automated Permitting ........................................................................................... 5-5 5.2 Regional Trends and Issues ................................................................................................. 5-5 5.2.1 Demographics ........................................................................................................ 5-5 5.2.2 Economy ................................................................................................................ 5-8 5.2.3 Trucking ................................................................................................................. 5-9 5.2.4 Freight Rail ........................................................................................................... 5-11 5.2.5 Air Cargo .............................................................................................................. 5-12 5.2.6 Economic Development ....................................................................................... 5-12 6. Current Conditions ............................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Highway/Trucking ............................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1.1 National Highway Freight Network ....................................................................... 6-2 6.1.2 Regional Truck Activity .......................................................................................... 6-3 6.1.3 Functionally Obsolete & Structurally Deficient Bridges ........................................ 6-5 6.1.4 Truck Safety ........................................................................................................... 6-7 6.1.5 Truck Bottlenecks ................................................................................................ 6-14 6.1.6 Truck Parking ....................................................................................................... 6-27 6.2 Intermodal Facilities ......................................................................................................... 6-31 6.3 Freight Rail ........................................................................................................................ 6-33 6.3.1 Rail Service ..........................................................................................................