Get documents about "The Regional Freight Plan
Document Sample
Fall 2009
www.oregonmetro.gov
The Regional Freight Plan
The Regional Freight Plan identifies policies
and actions that support a balanced multi- Trade-dependent state
modal transportation system and a sustainable economies
and prosperous future. It addresses the needs
Oregon is ninth and Washington is first in
of freight through-traffic as well as regional
movements and access to employment, the United States*.
industrial and commercial districts in
the region. The plan was developed with Exports 2007 Oregon state exports totaled
considerable help from a 33-member Regional $16.5 billion; 2007 Portland/Vancouver
Freight and Goods Movement Task Force and regional exports totaled $15.8 billion.
a technical advisory committee as part of the
2035 Regional Transportation Plan update. Businesses Oregon companies depend on
Portland’s marine, rail, air and road facilities
How does efficient freight for access to resources and markets: onions,
transportation result in good jobs? apples, hazelnuts, grass seed, seafood, wood
The Portland-Vancouver region’s human,
products, Les Schwab, Fred Meyer, Intel,
natural and built resources create a globally
competitive hub for commerce. The region’s Nike, Columbia Sportswear, etc.
prosperity is directly tied to investments
Jobs One of five statewide jobs relies on
that create high-quality jobs and provide
multi-modal transportation options to an effective transportation network for
help businesses efficiently reach global and operations. In 2008, 1,480 direct jobs
domestic marketplaces. and $530 million in direct income were
tied to marine and air terminals at Port of
Inside our region, throughways and arterial Portland. Sharing the same regional and
streets distribute freight moved by truck to
national transportation network, the Port
air, marine and pipeline terminal facilities, rail
yards, industrial areas and commercial centers. of Vancouver generated nearly 2,300 direct
Rail branch lines connect industrial areas, marine and industrial jobs in 2005.
marine terminals and pipeline terminals to rail
yards. Pipelines transport petroleum products Local revenue $182 million in local/state
to and from terminal facilities. taxes are generated by the Port of Portland
(2008).
Improving transportation capacity, efficiency,
flexibility and travel time reliability boosts
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce Industry Trade
local business productivity and our region’s
Data and Analysis; EDRG White Paper (2008); Port of
ability to attract and retain businesses
Portland (2009); Port of Vancouver (2009); Martin &
and family-wage jobs. This is particularly
Associates (2006, 2009).
important as our region works to rebound
from challenging economic times. * Trade-dependency rankings are based on value of
state exports as a percentage of gross state product.
Metro How can we invest now to boost the
People places. Open spaces. triple bottom line of economy, equity The task force identified six issue
Clean air and clean water do and the environment? areas to be addressed through the
not stop at city limits or county With nearly 1.2 million more people1 expected Regional Freight Plan:
lines. Neither does the need for
jobs, a thriving economy and
in the Portland metro region by 2035, family
wage job retention and creation is essential. Congestion and hotspots Chronic road and rail
good transportation choices for
people and businesses in our If the region is to fairly share expanded network bottlenecks that impede regional freight/
region. Voters have asked Metro goods movement.
to help with the challenges that
economic opportunities across the region and
cross those lines and affect the maintain the economic engine that sustains Reliability Unpredictable travel time due to
25 cities and three counties in community and environmental health, it crashes, construction, special events and weather.
the Portland metropolitan area.
must keep the traded sector competitive. To
A regional approach simply maximize the return on public investment, Capacity constraints Due to physical and
makes sense when it comes to freight-oriented preservation, management operational issues as well as lack of capacity in
protecting open space, caring
for parks, planning for the
and investment priorities should focus on: critical corridors.
best use of land, managing
garbage disposal and increasing
• Carefully evaluating when, where and why Network barriers Safety concerns and out
recycling. Metro oversees freight problems occur. of direction travel resulting from weight limited
world-class facilities such as the bridges, low bridge clearances, steep grades, at-
Oregon Zoo, which contributes • Addressing highway bottlenecks to improve
grade rail crossings and poorly designed turns or
to conservation and education, truck mobility in and through the region,
and the Oregon Convention intersections.
Center, which benefits the
such as I-5/Columbia River Crossing area,
region’s economy. the I-5/I-405 Portland central city loop and Land use System capacity and land for industrial
connections to US 26 and I-84, and the I-5 uses that is being lost to other activities.
Metro Council corridor south to Wilsonville.
President Impacts Managing adverse impacts including
David Bragdon
• Improving and protecting interchanges diesel emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, water
that provide access to major industrial quality, noise and land use conflicts.
Rod Park areas, particularly I-5/Marine Drive and
District 1
I-5/Columbia Blvd serving the Columbia
Carlotta Collette Corridor and Rivergate industrial areas,
District 2 I-205/OR 212/OR 224 serving the
Carl Hosticka
Clackamas and Milwaukie industrial areas, volumes at the region’s ports and intermodal
District 3 and I-205/Airport Way providing primary facilities increase and demand for passenger
access to Portland International Airport and rail service grows.
Kathryn Harrington
District 4
east Columbia Corridor industrial areas.
• Pursuing clean, green and smart
Rex Burkholder
• Improving arterial connections to current technologies and practices.
District 5 and emerging industrial areas such as
the Columbia/Cascade River District,
Robert Liberty
District 6
Clackamas industrial area and Tualatin 1
2035 Regional Transportation Plan (January 2008, Chapter 2,
industrial area. Examples include Sunrise Tables 2.2). Population forecasts of 58 percent increase from
Metro Council
Project phased improvements recommended 2005 levels include Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington
503-797-1700 by the Sunrise Project Policy Committee and counties in Oregon, and Clark County in southwest Washington.
metrocouncil@oregonmetro.gov last mile local industry connectors, such as
the I-84/257th Avenue Troutdale interchange
Auditor and SW 124th from Tualatin-Sherwood
Suzanne Flynn Road to the I-5/North Stafford interchange.
• Developing a regional routing strategy for For more information:
ensuring safe transport of hazardous loads.
www.oregonmetro.gov/rtp
• Addressing critical marine and freight rail
transportation needs such as completing
the Columbia River channel deepening
and upgrading main line and rail yard
infrastructure. Freight rail is currently at
or near capacity with little room to handle
more traffic without additional investment.
Fall 2009
These constraints will worsen as freight
Printed on recycled-content paper.
09346
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