Study Overview

      Study Overview
      Freight Story
      Regional Goods Movement System
            Freight Activity Centers
            Regional Freight Corridors
            Local Truck Routes
            Freight Hot Spots

Resources

      Maps and Data
      White Papers
      Freight Library
      Glossary
      Freight Photo Gallery
      Freight Video
      Organization Links
      Study Documents

Regional Database

      Interactive Freight Database

Freight Corridor Studies

      Freight Corridor Screening Process
      Freight Corridor Study Guidelines
      Freight Corridor Screening Reports

Goods Movement Partners

      Goods Movement Advisory Committee
      Transportation Providers Committee

Study Overview

Download Study Overview (1.5MB, PDF)
Why are we conducting this study?

  • Enhance freight mobility
  • Trucks are everywhere and are not going away
  • Other modes depend on trucks to complete the "final mile" delivery
  • Statistics from FHWA show that the percentage increase in truck traffic is raising faster than the percentage of automobile traffic
  • Trucks contribute to congestion due to their unique operating characteristics and needs
  • Port of Tampa expansion and need to efficiently move freight on/off the port
  • Expanded container capacity
  • Panama Canal expansion (what does it mean to Tampa?)
  • Gateway to South America?
  • Modal shift from truck to rail for out of region goods movement
  • Rail capacity limitations
  • Sustain and stimulate the economy
  • Regionally, goods movement supports 9,800 businesses, 164,000 jobs, and nearly $7 billion in payroll
  • Industry depends on efficient freight transportation system
  • Higher paying and not easily transferable industrial jobs vs moderate paying, easy to relocate office operations
  • Preserve communities
  • Land use policies that preserve freight corridors
  • Ensure designated truck routes support efficient truck movement. (i.e. designated truck routes should meet truck operational standards)
  • Create an effective freight planning framework
  • Structure that supports MPO process
  • Assessment of freight issues and needs
  • Project identification and implementation
  • Monitoring and feedback.
  • Regional Strategic Freight Plan
  • Regional and local freight advisory groups
  • Include freight initiatives in LRTP
  • Develop a comprehensive new freight database to support planning effort
  • Develop action plans and implement them

What will be the end result?

  • Regional Goods Movement Advisory Committee (RGMAC)
  • Freight Advisory Committees or similar at each of the MPOs (FACs)
  • Dedicated and knowledgeable freight staff member in each MPO
  • Identification of freight goals and objectives in LRTPs
  • Identification of freight projects in LRTPs, TIPs and CIPs.
  • Regional freight database accessible by MPO and County planners
  • Regional freight plan/strategy that
  • Guides local freight planning efforts
  • Promotes economic development
  • Results in transportation projects that improve freight and non-freight mobility