GREENSBORO URBAN AREA 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan CHAPTER 7 5. Better define the national freight system; Freight Element 6. Strengthen the freight component of the planning process; In recognition of the key role that freight transportation 7. Develop a plan for the reorganization of the plays in the Piedmont Triad region the Burlington- DOT; Graham, Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem 8. The marine transportation and ports need a Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are stronger voice to speak to their needs in the undertaking a Regional approach to the Metropolitan national interest; Transportation Plan (MTP) to develop a framework for an integrated freight planning document in their respective 9. Embrace private sector participation; areas. 10. Raise revenue (10 Steps to an Effective National Over the last several years, the Piedmont Triad has become Freight Policy, 2012). increasingly focused on freight transportation planning This chapter describes existing conditions and trends since the loss of textile manufacturing and a shift to for the nation, state, and Piedmont Triad study area major Freight and Goods Movement Industry. The goals and identifies their current and future issues. NC ports guiding regional freight planning and investment are: and airports are included, followed by a summary of • Provide a safe freight transportation system that key points and a list of recommendations. The chapter sustains or improves existing levels of freight discusses both highway freight and rail freight. Many of access and mobility; the issues and trends differ between the highway mode and the rail freight mode and are discussed separately. • Support the region’s economic well-being, while However, the two modes are closely linked and there are remaining sensitive to environmental needs and cross-cutting issues. concerns; and • Achieve efficiency in operations and investments Relevance to the Transportation System in the freight transportation system. and the Plan Freight movement is critical to an advanced industrial Since NCDOT issued its previous State Transportation economy and the ease of freight movement is fundamental Plan (STP), “Charting a New Direction for NCDOT” in to a region’s economic competitiveness. Freight movement 2004, several initiatives have highlighted the importance affects a region’s quality of life, particularly when ensuring of freight and logistics in relation to economic health truck traffic has suitable routes to and from the national and growth. In North Carolina, freight and logistics highway or rail networks that avoid established residential have emerged as a state priority that can affect economic areas. development and competitiveness. In North Carolina, this topic relates to the movement of raw goods and materials Federal legislation emphasizes freights role’ in regional as well as finished goods and products, between their transportation planning. Freight must be considered both origins and destinations including in- state distribution to in its own right and as a supporting element of an area’s businesses and consumers and out-of-state markets. As a economic vitality and competitiveness. result, freight and logistics touch all aspects of the state’s The Journal of Commerce recommends that Congress and economic development targets including agriculture, the President improve our national freight policy with the biomedical, education, manufacturing, military, and following actions: tourism. 1. Clearly define national goals with respect to all The Governor’s 25 Year Vision, the Strategic Transportation transportation; Investments program, and the Transportation Strategic Corridor framework are all elements of this new focus on freight 2. Begin work on strategic performance measures for flows. Underlying this effort is the recognition of the freight; intimate relationship between freight flows and economic 3. Create a competitive freight discretionary grant development. In recognition of the diverse needs of program; the state with respect to transportation, the 25 year strategic plan has divided the state into four fundamental 4. Strengthen and diversify freight funding sources; regions (Western, Central, Eastern and Coastal) and Freight Element 7-1 GREENSBORO URBAN AREA 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan developed different long-term initiatives and goals for • Mobility – facilitating significant movements of each region. In addition to this, some statewide goals and freight and people; and initiatives have been developed such as improving public • Economic prosperity – support economic transportation to include passenger rail and supporting development and efficiency of transport logistics. greater broadband connectivity through existing Right of Way. A significant number of Strategic Transportation Corridors are within the Piedmont Triad region. They The Central North Carolina region stretches from include numerous interstate and major highway corridors Charlotte to Research Triangle Park and includes the including I-40, I-73, I-74, I-77, I-85, US 29 and US 220 as Piedmont Triad. The report recognizes the Central region well as rail corridors including the NS Crescent Corridor. as a center for high-tech industry, life science industry, These corridors not only serve economic centers within and higher education. The Central region is the state’s the Piedmont Triad region, but also provide critical links largest economic engine, “providing $300 billion in gross to other parts of North Carolina as well as the rest of the domestic product and accounting for 67 percent of the state’s total United States. GDP” and currently housing 61% of the total population of the state. In recognition of the challenges faced by this Piedmont Together, a recent regional study of the Piedmont region over the next 25 years such as population growth Triad, highlights the importance of freight transportation outstripping the current capacity of the transportation and logistics infrastructure and services with regard to the system, deteriorating quality of the infrastructure, and the economic wellbeing of the region and its residents. The associated growing costs of maintenance, the plan has set study identified a series of goals and objectives directly the following goals and initiatives for the Central Region related to enhancing and developing the multimodal freight over the next 25 years: system of the region as a tool to benefit the residents and the economic development of the Piedmont Triad. • Relieve Congestion for People and Products Piedmont Together noted “freight movement will remain • Expand Mass Transit Options a driving economic force. To protect this asset the • Enhance Access to Inland Ports region includes freight movement in the planning and prioritization of the regional transportation • Improve Connectivity to Logistics Hubs and infrastructure. Providing more transportation options on • Support Connections to Privately Developed a regional scale will help us maintain minimal congestion Mega-sites. and create advantages to provide an attractive lifestyle and An element of the new transportation planning process a welcoming environment for businesses to thrive and 1 undertaken by the NC Department of Transportation create more job opportunities.” is the identification of strategic transport corridors The study identified two primary goals related to freight throughout the state. These corridors include both road planning and operations within the region. and rail routes. Some of the corridors are wholly within the boundaries of North Carolina, while others link to 1. Provide more transportation choices through adjoining states. the development of safe, reliable and economical transportation infrastructure and The NCDOT is defining the network of multimodal services to decrease household transportation Strategic Transportation Corridors because they form costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on the backbone of the state’s transportation system. The foreign oil, improve air quality, and promote corridors are recognized as routes used by most of the public health. state’s freight and intercity travel (passengers), link critical • Objective 1 Establish and enhance a robust centers of economic activity and international air and sea network of multimodal transportation choices ports, and generally support interstate commerce. at the statewide, regional, county and municipal The goals of the Strategic Transportation Corridors levels involving highways, passenger and freight program include: rail, regional and local transit, para-transit • System connectivity – essential links within the services, sidewalks, cycling infrastructure, and entire transport system; recreational trails and greenways. 1Piedmont Together, Comprehensive Regional Plan, PART, 201 Freight Element 7-2 GREENSBORO URBAN AREA 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan • Objective 2 Conduct local research and system. However, as congestion affects transportation education on the benefits of a multimodal reliability, costs will increase because reliability will be a regional network. premium – affecting the price of retail items. 2. Maintain and enhance the region’s Costs competitive edge as a freight transportation and logistics hub on the Eastern Seaboard Cost of disruptions by focusing on facilities and infrastructure Cost of countermeasures planning, and improving coordination and A cooperation among stakeholders. B • Objective 1 Develop a comprehensive vision for freight infrastructure in the region. C • Objective