Valdosta-LowndesMetropolitan Planning

Organization

Freight Transportation Study and Report Series

NADO Rural Transportation ConferenceApril 25-27, 2012

Freight Planning in Small MPOs

• Data is Not Available• Data is Expensive• Freight is a Big Topic• Economic Development Needs• How do you apply what you have?

Southern Georgia Regional Commission

• Valdosta, GA MPO• Designated 2000• ~120,000• 3 Counties• MPO Staff of 1

Freight in Valdosta• Founded in 1861, town

moved to be on Railroad• 1hr. North of Intersection

of I-75 & I-10• US 84, US 41, Moody

AFB• CSX and NS Railroads, 2

short lines• Within 8 hr. drive of Ports

in Savannah, Charleston, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans, etc.

Future of Freight in Valdosta

• Logistics and Distribution

• Growth of Port Traffic• Inland Port 1 hr north

– 3K-5K Jobs in 5 yrs.• Through Traffic• I-75 LOS F• Rail Lines LOS D or F

2009 Freight Study• Analyzed General Freight Movement in

Region• Partnered with CoC to distribute survey

– Survey of 118 companies (57 identified as freight intensive users)

• Industries: Forestry/Ag, Mining, Utilities, Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation

• Committee of Local Freight Users• Provide Local Officials with Information

2009 Freight Study Locals

• No local truck route designations in County

• Restrictions in City, but no formal plan, or routes

• Number of bridge restrictions, restricting local deliveries

2009 Freight Study Survey

• 70% of trucking firms operate nationally• 64% of shipments outside of SE US or

International• 90% said that highways provided good

access to markets• Majority felt that local government should

focus on attracting freight intensive industries

2009 Freight Study Survey

• Recommendations to Attract Freight/Logistics Industry– Improved highway/rail crossings– Defined Local Truck Routes– Improving Signage– Local Intermodal Facility

Crashes in 2009 Study

• Looked only at Classes 8-10

• 37% of crashes were caused by commercial vehicle

• Improper changing of lanes on interstate or arterial roads

Rail in 2009 Study• Wood/Forest

Products, Paper, Farm/Food Products, Chemicals

• CSX Switching Yard• Most of the traffic is

through traffic• 3-4 significant users• Improvements

Needed to GFRR

Land Use in 2009 Study• Comp Plan – Freight Intensive Land Uses

Identified• Industries: Forestry/Ag, Mining, Utilities,

Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation• 12,000 + employees, 30% of employment• 4 Large Distribution Centers• Several Trucking Firms• Multiple agencies – Plan Commission,

Industrial Authority, Local Governments

2009 Freight Study Conclusions

• Policy Statement about Freight in 2035 TP– “Develop a transportation system that is

efficient for freight movement…” • Evaluation Measure: Number of jobs in freight

intensive industries

• Use Freight Data to Identify and Prioritize Projects

• Access Management Plan for US 41

2009 Freight Study Conclusions

• Identified bottleneck locations– All are projects in the 2035 TP

• Highway/Rail Crossings were an Issue– Two projects in 2035 TP

• Desire to connect to points west and I-95– Two projects in State LRTP

• Projects Accelerated if Regional Sales Tax Passes

Questions about Freight• Analysis of Exporting Industries – Location

Quotient Analysis Method• Evaluate Demand for Small Intermodal Facility• Impact of Rail on Local Economy• O-D Study of Commodities• Evaluate Services Provided by Rest/Truck Stops• Analysis of Bridges along Truck Routes• Determine Areas Suitable for Ind. Dev. Near Rail• Promote Economic Development of VLD Airport • Remove Truck Traffic from Downtown Valdosta• Examine impact/location of Commercial Vehicle

Crashes

Report 1: Exporting Industries• Location Quotient and Shift-Share Analysis

– LQ – shows how much local industries export and import compared to the larger economy

– Shift-Share – local economic changes over time compared to larger economy, identifies industries that are succeeding, emerging, mature, or transforming

• Overview of local economy for local officials• 4 Industries are Emerging or Transforming

that are transportation related

Report 1: Exporting Industries

Report 2: Impact of Freight Rail

• NS/CSX Operate 25 trains +/-• 65% of crossings are unsignalized with

only a stop sign, lots of private crossings• 30+ crashes since 2001, 2 fatalities• 1 shortline in need of repair

– 400+ jobs promised if this happens– Funding coming from Regional Sales Tax if it

passes

Report 2: Impact of Freight Rail• 10+ active rail spurs to private industries

– 840+ employees, $700M in sales• 1.8% of total county employment• 7.6% of total county sales

• 130+ companies with access, not used– 2,300 employees, $950M in sales

• Total Impact of freight related companies w/access to rail– 7% of total county employment– 18% of total county sales

Report 3: Commercial Veh. Crashes

• Report Complete by August 2012

• 2000-2009 Data– 1791 Total Crashes– 23 Fatal Crashes– 2 Crashes w/Haz. Mat.

Release– #1 Factor: Following

Too Close

• Severity• Hazardous Materials• Contributing Factors• CDL Status• Time of Day• Location; Top 10?• Inter- vs. Intra-state• Manner of Collision• Veh. Type

Regional Sales Tax

• 1% Sales Tax for 10 years• 12 Regions• 75% Regional Project List

– Economic Development– 20 of 59 projects directly freight related

• 25% Local Discretionary• If it does not pass, 30% match on current

state funds

Freight Planning in Small MPOs

• Lack of Meaningful/Affordable Data– Create own data – surveys, local contacts

• Break the issues down• Answer this question: How does freight

movement impact local economic development? (Jobs, Jobs, Jobs)

• Use results of research to impact project development, prioritization, etc.

• Keep Learning – State Conferences

QuestionsCorey Hull, AICP

Valdosta-Lowndes MPOSouthern Georgia Regional Commission

229-333-5277chull@sgrc.us

www.sgrc.us/transportation