Freight Section Analysis
2030 RTP Draft of 7-31-03
Page 1 of 2
The text below offers specific page references from Regional
Transportation Plan and commentary on why the section is
relevant or problematic
In the current draft of the 2030 RTP, analyses of and
proposals for freight transportation in the region are
conspicuous by their absence.
No Follow Through on Goals (pgs 24-6): Encouraging
sets of goals and objectives for commercial goods
movement are not supported by any specific projects or funding allocations in any part of
the plan.
No Apparent Consideration in Quantitative Analysis (pgs 45-59, especially 57 and
59): This RTP draft's presentation of "alternative scenarios" contains no assumptions,
performance measures, or findings regarding freight movement. There is no indication
that freight has been considered in these calculations. Given this absence and the
enormous scale of freight movement in the region, we must question the validity of these
analyses. Conclusions based on these analyses, e.g., that the RTP meets the constraint of
keeping the region within its "Mobile Emissions Budget" must also be questioned.
No Decision on the Class I Railroad's Plan (pgs 93-4): In regard to "Transportation
Strategies" this RTP draft notes, "Class I railroads, in cooperation with the City of
Chicago and the State of Illinois have prepared a long-range strategic plan to improve the
performance of freight infrastructure and coordination of freight rail operations in the
region." The RTP draft alludes favorably to the Class Railroads' plan, but it does not
endorse or propose modifications of this plan. No projects in this RTP draft are identified
as enacting the plan's recommendations.
No Plan to Implement Strategic System Recommendations (pgs 100, 112-4): Freight
is identified as one of four regional systems along with arterial highways, transit, and
bicycle and pedestrian. What this means is unclear. This RTP draft "recommends
strategic improvements" for freight as a strategic regional system. CATS' own
Intermodal Advisory Task Force (an advisory council with representatives of the freight
industry, transportation agencies, and not-for-profit public interest organizations) advises
CATS on freight transportation issues. The IATF submitted 9 recommendations to
CATS for improving the region's freight transportation to be included in the 2030 RTP.
Only 6 of these recommendations are reflected in this RTP draft's recommendations.
Missing recommendations call for CATS to:
·
Conduct a regional truck flow study
·
Create a comprehensive regional freight transportation improvement plan
·
Create an integrated, computer-based regional freight information system.
No strategy is presented here or elsewhere in this RTP draft for implementing IATF
recommendations that are noted.
This review will be more easily
understood as annotated
comments on problem areas in
the 2030 RTP.* The 2030 RTP
was considered from the point
of view of public comment
during 2001 and 2002,
particularly the comment found
in Changing Direction:
Transportation Choices for
2030.**
Thematic issues that impact
