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Introduction
Part of the solution is the Freight Action STrategy Corridor. The FAST Corridor is a collection of complementary grade separation and port access projects serving the noted ports and other important freight distribution centers along major rail and truck corridors. Collectively these projects will improve safety and streamline freight benefiting the region, state and nation. BackgroundIn 1994, the Freight Mobility Roundtable was formed. It began as an effort of the Puget Sound Regional Council (the Metropolitan Planning Organization, MPO) and the public/private Economic Development Council of Seattle & King County. Roundtable participants include: shippers and carriers (marine, rail, truck, air, and intermodal), local governments, the three ports, the WSDOT and state Transportation Commission, FHWA, FTA, FRA, MARAD, and the 833rd U.S. Army Transportation Battalion which is under the Military Transportation Management Command. Late in 1994 a conference of these participants established the ongoing FAST Corridor effort. A team comprised of regional and State officials was established in 1996. The FAST Corridor Agency Staff Team-FAST CAST completed a phased implementation plan in 1997 in consultation with the Roundtable. As of January 2003, ten of the 15 phase I projects are complete or nearly complete, and the rest are scheduled for implementation in 2003-06. An additional ten projects-FAST Phase II-were identified and prioritized in May 2002 for construction over the next three or four years. To view the completed projects, please see the chronology. For more InformationFor further information about the FAST Corridor and the multi jurisdictional, public and private cooperation that has been critical to our success to date, please visit the FAST web site or contact: Mr. Mike Cummings |
International trade is vital to the economy of Washington State, with more than one in three jobs (740,000) tied to international trade. Increasing congestion in the vicinity of the deep-water ports of Everett, Seattle and Tacoma was becoming a threat to the regional and state economy and a problem for the nation as well. The Ports of Seattle/Tacoma are the nation's third largest marine container shipping complex with 70 percent of container imports heading inland to other U.S. destinations. In addition, Asia is expected to comprise 45 percent of the world population by 2015, and by 2020 container traffic is expected to double through Puget Sound ports, the U.S. mainland's closest ports to Asia in terms of marine shipping time.