Senate Bill to Establish National Freight Transport Plan Introduced
On February 16, 2011, Senators Cantwell (D), Murray (D), and Lautenberg (D) introduced legislation (S. 371) that would establish the first U.S. comprehensive national freight transportation policy to support a growing trade economy.
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According to a press release, S. 371, the FREIGHT (Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation) Act of 2011 would ensure U.S. global economic competitiveness by modernizing the U.S. freight transportation system to support the quick and cost-effective movement of goods.
(Senate sources state that S. 371 is identical to S. 3629, the FREIGHT Act of 2010, which the three Senators introduced in 2010.)
According to a press release, S. 371 would:
Require Long Term National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan
The bill would direct the Transportation Secretary to develop and implement a long-term national freight transportation strategic plan that meets the following goals of the FREIGHT Act:
- reduce delays of goods and commodities entering into and out of intermodal connectors that serve international points of entry on an annual basis.
- increase travel time reliability on major freight corridors that connect major population centers with freight generators and international gateways on an annual basis.
- reduce by 10% the number of freight transportation-related fatalities by 2015.
- reduce national freight transportation-related carbon dioxide levels by 40% by 2030.
- reduce freight transportation-related air, water, and noise pollution and impacts on ecosystems and communities on an annual basis.
The bill would also require the Transportation Secretary to issue biennial progress reports, which would include any challenges to implementation and any requested policy and legislative changes.
Create New Office to Coordinate Efforts to Improve Efficiency, Operations
S. 371 would create a new Office of Freight Planning and Development within the Department of Transportation (DOT) that would coordinate efforts to improve the efficiency and operation of all modes of the national freight transportation system.
Establish Grant Program for Freight-Specific Infrastructure Projects
The bill would create a new competitive grant program for freight-specific infrastructure projects, such as port infrastructure improvements, freight rail capacity expansion projects, and highway projects that improve access to freight facilities.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/17/11 news, 11021709, for BP summary announcing the introduction of S. 371.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/26/10 news, 10072625, for BP summary of S. 3629, the FREIGHT Act of 2010.)
Press release available here