Freight Element
Planning in VTrans is to facilitate movement of both people and goods. The VTrans Freight Element focuses on the movement of goods within and through the Commonwealth.
Purpose
- Designation of critical urban and rural freight corridors under the National Highway Freight Program (23 U.S.C. § 167)
- Identification of transportation needs that may directly or indirectly impact the flow of freight within and through the Commonwealth
- Development of a Freight Investment Plan listing the freight-beneficial projects supported by National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) funds
- Identification of policy recommendations to inform the VTrans Long-Term Needs and VTrans Strategic Actions
- Increase awareness of the identified needs so that they can be better reflected or considered as part of metropolitan planning processes
- Provide basis for future modifications to the Policy for the Identification and Prioritization of the VTrans Mid-Term Needs
The VTrans Freight Element is a component of VTrans and serves as the Commonwealth’s state freight plan in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 70202 FAST Act State Freight Plans. In addition to meeting federal requirements, the VTrans Freight Element serves the following purposes:
Approach to the Designation of Critical Urban and Rural Freight Corridors
The VTrans Freight Element designates critical urban and rural freight corridors. This designation increases the state's eligible network and provides programming flexibility in allocation of National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) formula funds and FASTLANE Grant Program funds.
The Commonwealth is eligible to designate roughly sixty-five (65) miles of freight corridors within urbanized areas and one hundred sixty-seven (167) miles of freight corridors within rural areas. The designation of Critical Urban Freight Corridors requires coordination between the State and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
Approach to the Identification of Freight-related Needs and Recommendations
The Freight Element builds from the Commonwealth Transportation Board-adopted Mid-Term Needs, focusing on data-driven analysis to identify freight-related needs and recommendations with consideration of rail, air and waterborne freight.
Several performance measures, ranging from truck-related congestion, reliability, safety as well as truck parking are developed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more answers to specific questions about VTrans Freight Element? Find more information on our Frequently Asked Questions page here: https://vtrans.org/get-involved/frequently-asked-questions.