Preserving and Protecting Freight Infrastructure and Routes Findings from NCFRP 24 Mark Meitzen, Principal Investigator August 2011.

Preserving and Protecting Freight Infrastructure and Routes

Findings from NCFRP 24 Mark Meitzen, Principal Investigator

August 2011

August 2011 2

Introduction and Outline

NCFRP 24 team Christensen Associates UT Austin Center for Transportation Research Grow & Bruening Assistance from Kathryn Pett

This presentation is a high-level summary Freight transportation and its value Incompatibilities between freight and other land uses Freight considerations in land use planning and

zoning Greater detail on EnvisionFreight website and

forthcoming final report

August 2011 3

Supply Chains and the Movement of Freight

Most supply chains have an important spatial or geographic dimension Activity hubs and links between hubs Scope can be local, regional, national, international

Transportation is the vital link in these networks between diverse locations and functions Raw materials Various stages of production Warehousing and distribution Retail

August 2011 4

The Importance of Freight Transportation

On average, almost 11,000 ton-miles of freight is transported annually for every person in the U.S. Equivalent to one ton transported about half-way

around the world for every person Efficient freight transportation is a key to

minimizing supply chain costs In general, over half of logistics costs are related to

transportation Speed and reliability are key factors

Efficiency of freight transportation has important implications for the economy’s performance

August 2011 5

The Role of Freight Transportation in Production and Distribution

August 2011 6

Incompatibilities Between Freight and other Land Uses

Potential conflicts between freight operations and adjacent land uses e.g., residential, commercial, schools, hospitals, etc. Particularly an issue in urban areas

Nuisance Congestion, traffic issues Noise, vibration, light Pollution and health

Physical encroachment or interference Safety

At-grade crossings Trespass Accidents and spills

August 2011 7

Incompatibilities = Barriers to Efficient Freight Operations

From freight perspective, these conflicts often interfere with freight operations. For example: Speed restrictions Hours of operation restrictions Clearance and weight limitations Capacity constraints Corridor design constraints

Implications for supply chain/logistics efficiency and reliability Higher production and distribution costs

August 2011 8

Physical Encroachment onto Railroad Property

Source: Chuck Burnell North Carolina Railroad

August 2011 9

Residential Development in Close Proximity to Port Activity, LA/LB CA

Source: The Impact Project, June 2009http://hydra.usc.edu/scehsc/pdfs/D-1-3%20Trade%20Health%20Environment.pdf

August 2011 10

Development Adjacent to Waterways

Source: Mileski et al, “Analysis and Recommendations on Protecting Waterways from Encroachment”, Texas Transportation Institute, August, 2010.

August 2011 11

Development Adjacent/Around Freight Facilities

Key Highway (Condominiums) Baltimore MDSource: Jim Dwyer, Talking Freight,

November 19 2008.

August 2011 12

Trucks Queuing into Port, and Logistics Facilities

Source: The Impact Project , LA/LB CA, June 2009http://hydra.usc.edu/scehsc/pdfs/D-1-3%20Trade%20Health%20Environment.pdf

Source: Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports, Oakland CAhttp://www.workingeastbay.org/downloads/Port_Campaign_Overview.pdf

August 2011 13

Aircraft Noise - Residents Near Los Angeles International Airport

Source: GAO Airport Operations and Future Growth Present Environmental Challenges,August 2000http://www.gao.gov/archive/2000/rc00153.pdf

August 2011 14

Poor Land Use Planning and Construction Standards

Source: Dale Hill – Union Pacific

August 2011 15

Trespass is Major Issue for Rail

Children crossing UP line in Anaheim CA to get to Ball Jr. High School

Crossing the tracks to get to San Onofre State Beach, CA

Source: Jon Waide FRA Region 7 Law Enforcement Liaison Officer

August 2011 16

Freight Preservation and Protection Strategies

Long-Range Planning Zoning and Design Mitigation Education and Outreach

• State Enabling Acts

• Regional Visioning

• Comprehensive Plans

• Freight Facility Inventories

• Official Maps

• Purchase and Advance Acquisition

• Land Swaps

• Protective Condemnation

• Permit Development

• Access Rights

• Zoning Standards

• Buffer Areas

• Overlay Districts

• Lot Orientation

• Property Design

• Construction Standards

• Sound Proofing Standards

• Buffer Areas

• Noise and Vibration Treatment

• Track Treatment

• Yard Re-alignment

• Grade Crossing Management

• Port Gate Management

• Environmental Measures

• Zoning Measures

• Public Outreach and Education

• Relocation

• Informal Negotiations

• Public Involvement

• Multi-Jurisdictional Agreements

• Public Outreach and Education

• Stakeholder Roundtables and Freight/Community Committees

August 2011 17

Why Does Land Use Planning Matter to Freight?

Planning provides roadmap for (good and bad) zoning

Inadequate planning can lead to projects that: Block or otherwise impact freight corridors Put incompatible uses near, or encroaching on each other Reduce industrial land available near freight facilities

(e.g., ports) Mitigation is often attempted when planning and

zoning are inadequate Mitigation can be expensive and is not always effective

Freight has typically not been a significant element of land use planning

August 2011 18

Freight Compatible Planning and Development

Starts with long-range land use planning that: Recognizes freight as a geographically-dispersed

system– Corridors that span areas, not “blobs”

Protects and preserves the freight system Permits future expansion of, and efficiency

improvements to, the freight system Avoid or minimize incompatibilities with other land

uses. For example: Buffer areas Locations of commercial, residential, schools, hospitals,

etc. Lot orientation, building layout, construction guidelines

August 2011 19

Land Use Authority in the U.S.

August 2011 20

State Enabling Acts

State statute (“enabling act”) delegates the state’s land use authority to local governments and specifies: Extent of authority Required planning matters Required procedural steps Required planning documents (comprehensive plan,

zoning ordinances, zoning map, subdivision ordinances, etc.)

Very few include freight operations as a required planning element

August 2011 21

Typical Local Government Land Use System

August 2011 22

Local Land Use is Influenced by Other Processes

August 2011 23

MPOs and Regional Visions

MPOs mandated by federal law for metro areas Establish long-range transportation plans (20–30

years) and short-term (5 years) “transportation improvement programs”

These plans can be key places to protect freight Local governments generally protect MPO-designated

corridors from land use encroachment Regional visions – non-binding, long term (25-50

yrs) Typically sponsored by MPOs, councils of govt, etc Local governments are key stakeholders In most visioning processes, freight has not been a

key component to this point

August 2011 24

Some Reasons for Inadequate Freight Planning

Most state enabling acts don’t include freight as a required planning element Thus, not included in comprehensive plans or zoning

Not perceived as a local government issue Benefits of freight are too removed, poorly understood Local government only sees a piece of the system

Freight providers not always cooperative Education and communication issues

Planning degrees don’t provide freight education Freight stakeholders often aren’t involved in land use

planning and visioning processes

August 2011 25

Proposed Approach for Improving Freight Planning

Amend state enabling acts to make freight planning required in local comprehensive plans

Include freight in regional visions and MPO long-range plans

Create zoning ordinances that prescribe design criteria for freight-compatible development

Involvement and communication Freight stakeholders need to get involved in regional

and local planning processes Planners and elected officials need to invite freight

stakeholders to the table

August 2011 26

www.EnvisionFreight.com

Website developed for NCFRP 24 with info on: The value of freight transportation Planning and preservation strategies Mitigation approaches Illustrative case studies

Urban freight operation issues and strategies highlighted in case studies. For example: SIRR – corridor preservation and rehabilitation MIZOD – overlay zone to preserve port assets ARFMP – regional freight planning involving multiple

stakeholders Intermodal relocation – capacity and congestion