LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY.
WELCOME TO THE TALKING FREIGHT SEMINAR.
TODAY'S TOPIC IS FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
IN THE PRESENTATION, ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE IN A LISTEN ONLY MODE.
AFTERWARDS THERE WILL BE A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION.
AT THAT TIME IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE PRESS THE ONE FOLLOWED BY THE 4 ON YOUR TELEPHONE.
TODAY'S CONFERENCE IS RECORDED.
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE CONFERENCE OVER TO JENNIFER SEPLOW.
GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY AND GOOD MORNING TO THOSE OF YOU ON THE WEST.
WELCOME TO THE SECOND SEMINAR AND THE TALKING FREIGHT SEMINAR SERIES.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER SEPLOW.
I WILL MODERATE THE SEMINAR.
TODAY'S TOPIC FOCUSES ON FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
TODAY'S SEMINAR IS BEING RECORDED.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE CINDY BURBANK, THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF PLANNING ENVIRONMENT AND REALTY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU.
THANKS, JENNIFER.
WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU TO THE SECOND TALKING FREIGHT SEMINAR NET CONFERENCE JOINTLY SPONSORED BY TWO OF THE FHWA OFFICES.
MY OFFICE OF PLANNING AND ALSO JEFF'S OFFICE OF OPERATIONS IN FREIGHT MANAGEMENT.
THERE WAS AN EARLIER SESSION ON JULY 23rd.
IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED AND VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TODAY TO ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF SHARING AND LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER.
THESE TALKING FREIGHT SEMINARS ARE PART OF A BROADER FHWA PROGRAM.
FHWA FREIGHT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WITH A NEW ACRONYM TO LEARN.
FPD.
WHICH THE OFFICE OF FREIGHT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION IS UNDERTAKING.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL TRAINING, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES TO HELP THE FREIGHT AND PLANNING WORKFORCE MEET TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES.
AS JENNIFER SAID, TODAY'S TOPIC FOCUSES ON FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
AND IN PARTICULAR, HOW TO ESTABLISH THEM AND HOW TO SUSTAIN THEM.
SO THEY ARE PROACTIVE PARTNERS IN THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS.
WE HAVE TWO TERRIFIC SPEAKERS WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA.
MR. TED DAHLBURG.
HE IS THE MANAGER OF THE OFFICE OF FREIGHT PLANNING FOR THE DVRPC, THE DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT IS THE MPO IN THE PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN AREA.
ALSO MR. GERALD RAWLING.
AND GERALD IS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR CATS, THE CHICAGO AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY.
WHICH IS THE MPO IN THE NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS REGION.
TODAY, WE ARE DELIGHTED THERE ARE 160 OF YOU REGISTERED FOR THE SEMINAR NET CONFERENCE.
AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY MORE OUT THERE AT EACH LOCATION SITTING IN.
WE HOPE YOU FIND THESE DISCUSSIONS INFORMATIVE AND USEFUL AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FEEDBACK.
NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR OF OPERATIONS AS WELL AS ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE ITS JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE.
THANKS, CINDY.
SINCE I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENT AT THE FIRST TALKING FREIGHT SEMINAR, I WANTED TO ADD MY WELCOME TO THIS GROUP.
CINDY MENTIONED THE TALKING FREIGHT SEMINAR IS PART OF OUR LARGER FREIGHT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT IS BEING LED BY MY OFFICE.
WE STARTED WITH THE FRAID -- THE TALKING FREIGHT SERIES AS A FIRST ENTRY INTO THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
BUT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT A WIDER VARIETY OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PRODUCTS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MORE ACTIVITY COMING OUT UNDER THE FREIGHT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HEADING.
WHILE WE ARE LEADING THIS PROGRAM WITHIN THE OFFICE OF OPERATIONS, WE ARE DOING SO VERY MUCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER OFFICES IN THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND WITH OTHER MODAL ADMINISTRATIONS IN US D.O.T.
CINDY AND HER STAFF ARE STRONGER SUPPORTERS OF AN INCREASED FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
IT IS APPROPRIATE THE FIRST TWO TALKING FREIGHT SEMINARS LAST MONTH'S SEMINAR ON INCORPORATING FREIGHT IN THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS, AND THIS MONTH'S SEMINAR ON FREIGHT ADVISORY GROUPS, BOTH FOCUS ON THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE FREIGHT AND PLANNING PROCESS.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START AND A GOOD KICKOFF TO THE SERIES.
WE WILL IN FUTURE SESSIONS BE LOOKING AT A BROADER RANGE OF TOPICS FOCUSING ON TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES, SOME PRACTICAL HANDS-ON ADVICE YOU CAN USE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AS WELL AS SOME BROADER PERSPECTIVES AND DISCUSSIONS ON FREIGHT POLICY ISSUES.
WE ARE VERY MUCH TRYING TO FOCUS ON TOPICS OF HIGH INTEREST WITHIN THE PROFESSION AND TO REFLECT THE TRULY MULTIMODAL NATURE OF INTERMODAL FREIGHT ISSUES AND FREIGHT DELIVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
BASED ON THE RESPONSE TO THE FIRST SEMINAR WE CERTAINLY SEEM TO HAVE TAPPED INTO AN AREA OF PENT-UP DEMAND.
BY OUR COUNT WE HAD SOME 300-PLUS PARTICIPANTS AT THE FIRST SESSION, AND MY EXPECTATION IS ONCE WE COUNT UP THE FOLKS OUT THERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, WE WILL BE AT OR BEYOND THAT TODAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT RESPONSE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER VACATION SEASON.
SO I THANK YOU FOR DIALING IN TODAY AND PARTICIPATING WITH US ON THIS WEBCAST.
I HOPE YOU FIND THE TOPIC OF INTEREST.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS SERIES, IDEAS ON FUTURE TOPICS AND WAYS WE CAN MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JENNIFER AND LET MER MODERATE THE SESSION TODAY.
THANK YOU, JEFF, AND CINDY.
I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR MANY IN THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THE EFFORT.
WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS.
TED DAHLBURG OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND GERALD RAWLING OF CHICAGO AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY.
BOTH PRESENTERS WILL SPEAK ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES IN THEIR PARTICULAR REGIONS AND THE EFFORTS TAKEN ON BY THESE COMMITTEES.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER SOME LOGISTICAL DETAILS PRIOR TO STARTING.
TODAY'S SEMINAR WILL LAST 90 MINUTES WITH 60 MINUTES ALLOCATED FOR SPEAKERS AND THE FINAL 30 MINUTES FOR AUDIENCE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION.
WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DELAYED START.
IT WILL LAST 90 MINUTES.
WE WILL TRY SOMETHING NEW BASED ON SUGGESTIONS FROM THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THE FIRST SEMINAR.
YOU NOTICE ON THE SCREEN THERE IS A CHAT BOX ON THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE.
UNDERNEATH THIS CHAT BOX IS A THIN TEXT ENTRY AREA.
IF YOU THINK OF A QUESTION DURING ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TYPE IN THE QUESTION ON THAT ENTRY AREA, SEND IT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND CLICK SEND.
EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO VIEW THAT QUESTION.
WHILE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION DURING THE PRESENTATION, I WILL USE A FEW QUESTIONS TO START OFF THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD IN THE LAST 30 MINUTES.
THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT ANSWERED WILL BE POSTED TO THE FREIGHT PLANNING LISTSERV, THE ADDRESS IS ON THE SLIDE YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
AND PRESENTERS WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THROUGH THE LISTSERV.
I WILL DISCUSS THAT IN A MINUTE.
THE OPERATOR WILL GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ASK THE QUESTION DURING THE 30 -- AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 30-MINUTE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION.
AGAIN, IF WE RUN OUT OF TIME AND YOUR QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERED, POST YOUR QUESTION TO THE LISTSERV.
IT IS AN E-MAIL LIST.
IT IS A GREAT FORM FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION AS WELL AS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN POST QUESTIONS TO FIND OUT WHAT OTHER SUBSCRIBERS HAVE LEARNED IN THE AREA OF FREIGHT PLANNING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY JOINED, THE WEB ADDRESS IS ON THE SLIDE ON YOUR SCREEN.
YOU CAN REGISTER BY GOING TO THAT ADDRESS.
BOTH PRESENTERS WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR QUESTIONS POSTED TO THE LISTSERV THAT RELATE TO TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS AND WILL TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THE SESSION IS BEING RECORDED.
A FILE CONTAINING THE AUDIO AND VISUAL SESSION OF THE SEMINAR WILL BE POSTED TO THE WEBSITE IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.
TO ACCESS THAT, PLEASE VISIT TALKING FREIGHT WEBBEX DOT-COM.
YOU CAN CHOOSE THE SECTION YOU WANT TO VIEW.
DUE TO THE SIZE, RECORDABLE FILES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING OR LISTENING.
YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM.
DIRECT OTHERS WHO COULDN'T ATTEND THE SEMINAR TO ACCESS THE RECORDED EVENT.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH TED DAHLBURG AND HIS PRESENTATION ON THE PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN REGION FREIGHT ADVISORY COUNCIL.
TED, I WILL TURN THE PRESENTER ROLE OVER TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN BEGIN.
TED, CLICK ON THE TAB WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO JOIN YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
MY TALK WILL BASICALLY BE A CASE STUDY OF THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT MY MPO, THE DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
I HOPE IT TURNS INTO A PRACTICAL TALK.
IT IS AIMED AT THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN STARTING A FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR PERHAPS ENVIRGATING ONE.
I HOPE I WILL GIVE YOU SOME PRACTICAL TIPS ON THEM.
I WILL TAKE MY BEST SHOT AT THAT QUESTION OF HOW DO YOU ENGAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE FREIGHT AREA AND HOW DO YOU KEEP PEOPLE COMING BACK TO THE TABLE?
I HAVE BROKEN MY TALK UP INTO FOUR DISTINCT AREAS.
THE FIRST WILL FOCUS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF OUR COMMITTEE.
THEN I WILL LAY OUT THE CHOREOGRAPHY FOR THE MEETINGS.
THIRDLY, I WILL IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES THAT I BELIEVE HELP STRENGTHEN OUR FAC.
AND FINALLY, I WILL -- I HOPE TO OFFER YOU SOME CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR FAC IMPACTS OUR MPO.
THE DVRPC IS ONE OF 330 MPOs FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE PUBLIC AGENCIES AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND LAND-USE PLANS AND PROGRAMS.
OUR REGION IS THE SIXTH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.
IT IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS MADE UP OF PORTIONS OF TWO STATES -- PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY.
LET ME SEE.
PENNSYLVANIA HERE.
AND NEW JERSEY ON THIS SIDE.
THE MAJOR CITIES ARE PHILADELPHIA, CHESTER, CAMDEN, AND TRENTON.
OUR FREIGHT NETWORK IS TRULY A REGIONAL ASSET, AS A MODERATELY GROWING REGION, WE REGARD FREIGHT AS A VERY IMPORTANT ECONOMIC GENERATOR.
THE PORTS OF PHILADELPHIA AND CAMDEN ARE THE FIFTH-LARGEST IN TERMS OF TONNAGE IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG RAILROADING TRADITION HERE AND THAT IS PRESERVED TODAY BY THREE CLASS 1 RAILROADS AND A DOZEN SHORTLINES.
FINALLY, AS ANOTHER INDICATOR OF HOW IMPORTANT FREIGHT IS TO US, ONE OUT OF FIVE JOBS, 20%, IS TRACEABLE TO TRANSPORTATION, MANUFACTURING, AND AGRICULTURE.
SO THE ABILITY OF THE FREIGHT INDUSTRY TO SERVE ITS CUSTOMERS IS VERY VITAL TO US.
CONSIDERATION OF THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT BY MPOs IS MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION.
THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE REFERENCED UNDER ONE OF THE PLANNING PRIORITIES UNDER TEA-21.
THAT IS TO FORMALIZE COORDINATION WITH FREIGHT SHIPPERS, MEANING THE CUSTOMERS, THE MANUFACTURERS, AND THE CARRIERS.
LOOKING AHEAD, THERE IS EVERY CASE THAT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATION AND -- IT IS LIKELY THERE WILL BE A PROMINENT ROLE FOR FREIGHT AS A PLANNING CONSIDERATION.
THERE'S EVEN DISCUSSION ABOUT A FUNDING POT EXPLICITLY FOR FREIGHT PROJECTS.
LOOKING AT DVRPC, OUR BOARD, WHICH WAS THE COMPOSITION OF WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1965, DOES NOT INCLUDE A MEMBER FROM THE FREIGHT COMMUNITY.
HISTORICALLY, PRIOR TO ICE TEA WE DID NOT TREAT FREIGHT IN A COMPREHENSIVE FASHION.
WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH REALITIES ABOUT BIGGER SHIPS AND HEAVIER RAIL CARS AND SO ON.
THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT, I THINK, IS THE POPULAR NOTION IS THAT IT WILL DOUBLE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND IT WILL ACTUALLY OUTPACE THE MOVEMENT OF PASSENGERS IN ITS GROWTH.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T SEE ALDING A LOT OF HIGHWAY CAPACITY TO THE SYSTEM.
SO TRULY, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC, AND TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S A REALLY COMMON-SENSICAL RATIONALE FOR HAVING A FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
OUR FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING FOR FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
FOR TEN YEARS.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE AVERAGE ATTENDANCE BY YEAR.
OVERALL, THE ATTENDANCE, HAS BEEN GROWING.
THE COMMITTEE FIRST MET IN 1992, IN DECEMBER.
AND I THINK IT WAS -- THE COMMITTEE WAS CREATED AMIDST A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND OPTIMISM.
ICED TEA HAD JUST BEEN PASSED, AND THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA WAS WORKING WITH CON RAIL TO CREATE A DOUBLE STACK CLEARANCE ROUTE THROUGH THE STATE.
WE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS LOCALLY REGARDING FREIGHT.
IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE PARTICIPATION GREW, THE FIRST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
I THINK A LOT OF THAT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CON RAIL TRANSACTION.
THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA, SINCE CON RAIL WAS HEAD-QUARTERED HERE.
FOLLOWING THAT, YOU CAN SEE IN SORT OF THE MIDDLE YEARS THERE, THERE WAS A DROP-OFF IN ATTENDANCE.
BUT THEN I THINK WE HONED OUR APPROACH AND OUR COMMITMENT, AND YOU CAN SEE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN GROWING.
AS ONE CASE OF THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMITTEE.
SO I THINK TODAY I WILL FOCUS ON THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND TELL YOU WHAT THAT APPROACH HAS ENTAILED.
THE FAC IS ONE OF SIX TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES, THE DVRPC.
THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE IS THE DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE ORGANIZATION HAS REMAINED VIRTUALLY INTACT SINCE 1992.
AND I WILL DISCUSS EACH OF THESE IN GREATER DETAIL IN SUBSEQUENT SLIDES.
WE HAVE TWO CO-CHAIRS.
AT THE TOP.
BOTH OF WHOM ARE DRAWN FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
AS ANOTHER CASE OF THE LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE THREE DISTINCT SUBCOMMITTEES, AND THEY ARE ALL CHAIRED BY MEMBERS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO WE HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS AT THE TOP, A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, TO LEAD THE COMMITTEE.
AND THEN WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE FOUNDATION OF THE COMMITTEE IS OUR MEMBERSHIP, AND THOSE ARE OUR PRIMARY CUSTOMERS.
THE FAC IS LARGELY STAFFED BY DVRPC.
AND IT IS PAID FOR THROUGH OUR ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM AT A FUNDING LEVEL OF $75,000.
THE FAC WAS INITIALLY CREATED BY THE DVRPC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE PennDOTT DEPUTY SECRETARY OF RAIL FREIGHT PORTS AND AVIATION.
BOTH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF FREIGHT, AND THEY -- THE PRIORITY ASSIGNED TO THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO MY WORK.
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE IS -- HAS ATTENDED EVERY MEETING BUT ONE OVER 11 YEARS.
THE CO-CHAIRS SET THE AGENDA AND COURSE FOR THE COMMITTEE.
THEY SIT AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE, AND THEY DEMONSTRATE TO OUR FELLOW FREIGHT PEOPLE FROM THE DELAWARE VALLEY THAT FREIGHT IS A PRIORITY AND WE ARE TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
BECAUSE OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S INVOLVEMENT, YOU WILL FIND FREIGHT CASCADING THROUGH A VARIETY OF OUR ACTIVITIES HERE, WHETHER IT IS INDIVIDUAL REPORTS, OR AGENCY-WIDE PUBLICATIONS OR EVEN ANNUAL DINNERS.
THERE IS GENERALLY A FREIGHT PRESENCE THERE.
THE PARTICIPATION OF PennDOTT AND NEW JERSEY D.O.T. IN THE PROCESS IS ALSO CRITICAL.
BOTH OF THE STATE D.O.T.S ARE VERY ACTIVE WITH FREIGHT, AND THEY HAVE MANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY ARE ALSO INITIATING, AND WE FIND THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT AND COMPLEMENTARY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE ARRANGED AROUND THREE FUNCTIONAL AREAS.
DATA, PLANNING AND SHIPPERS.
THE KEY, I THINK, IS THAT WE DRAW THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND WE GIVE THEM A PROMINENT ROLE AND SEATING ARRANGEMENT AT THE FULL COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THEY SIT AT THE FRONT.
THE CHAIRS ARE APPOINTED BY THE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS.
WE TRY TO ASSURE SOME DIVERSITY BY INDUSTRY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE THREE CURRENT CHAIRS, ONE WORKS FOR A REFINERY, ONE FOR A RAILROAD AND ONE IS A CONSULTANT.
UNDERNEATH EACH OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES WE ASSIGN A NUMBER OF THE MORE ACTIVE FREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
EACH OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES IS ASSIGNED SPECIFIC TASKS TO DO, AND THE DVRPC STAFF ACTUALLY PERFORM MUCH OF THE LEGWORK, A LOT OF THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES, IN BETWEEN THE QUARTERLY MEETINGS.
AGAIN THE COMMITTEE ONLY MEETS EVERY THREE MONTHS.
AND THEN WE USE THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN TO REPORT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE -- ON HIS RESPECTIVE ACTIVITIES OF THEIR SUBCOMMITTEE.
I THINK YOU CAN JUST LIKE A LOT OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, I THINK THERE'S SOME ROOM FOR CREATIVITY.
I WILL GIVE YOU EXAMPLES.
AT OUR JULY FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, THE DATA SUBCOMMITTEE DISTRIBUTED NEW COPIES OF THE -- OF A BTS REPORT ON FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION TRENDS, AND WE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THE PLANNING COMMITTEE IS SPENDING SOME TIME NOW PREPARING TESTIMONY AND LINING UP PEOPLE TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AT PUBLIC HEARINGS THEY WILL HAVE THIS FALL.
WE WANT TO ASSURE THAT THERE'S A FREIGHT PRESENCE AT THOSE HEARINGS, SO WE WILL HELP IDENTIFY SOME OF THE PEOPLE SPEAKING AND HELP THEM PREPARE COMMENTS.
FINALLY THE SHIPPER'S SUBCOMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING US KEEP SOME MANUFACTURING INTERESTS INVOLVED WITH THE COMMITTEE, THEY ARE HELPING US ORGANIZE ADON OCTOBER MEETING WITH THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE WE THINK IS JUST WHAT WE WOULD HOPE FOR.
IT IS EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR.
ALL OF THE MODES ARE REPRESENTED.
MEMBERSHIP IS VOLUNTARY.
THIS ISN'T A COMMITTEE OTHER THAN THE FIVE LEADERS THAT I TALKED ABOUT AT THE TOP OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE DON'T HAVE DESIGNATED SPOTS FOR MODES, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE MAINTAIN A VERY LARGE CONTACT LIST, AND KEEP IT UNDER CONSTANT REVISION.
IT IS A -- IT IS A FLUID COMMUNITY.
WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN ATTEND EVERY MEETING, AND THAT'S FINE.
AND I DO HAVE TO TAKE A MINUTE AND SAY THAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH A VERY DEDICATED CORE OF -- A GROUP OF CORE MEMBERS, AND THEY ARE JUST GREAT CONTRIBUTORS.
THEY SUGGEST SPEAKERS, AND THEY GIVE ME LOTS OF IDEAS.
THEIR WORK AND THEIR PRIDE IN THEIR WORK AND ENTHUSIASM IS VERY INFECTIOUS.
WE MAKE A STRONG EFFORT TO MAKE THE MEMBERS FEEL AS WELCOME, AND AS IMPORTANT AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS THEIR CHANCE TO BE AT THE TABLE.
THAT'S WHERE WE PUT THEM.
THEY MAY ONLY BE HERE EVERY THREE MONTHS, SO WE HAVE TO TREAT THEM LIKE GUESTS.
ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS A DESIGNATED FACILITATOR, OR A STAFF PERSON, YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR OWN WORDS.
THIS IS A HALLMARK OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THEY ACT ESSENTIALLY LIKE A MEDIATOR BETWEEN THE FREIGHT COMMUNITY AND THE MPO.
THE FACILITATOR, LIKE MR. GERALD RAWLING, WHO IS SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE, MAY NOT ACTUALLY PERFORM ALL OF THE WORK.
BUT HE OR SHE SERVES AS THE FOCAL POINT.
HE OR SHE WILL FIND THOSE THINGS THAT THE MPO IS DOING, THE IMPACT OF THE FREIGHT COMMUNITY THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
I BELIEVE THAT A STRONG ASPECT OF THE JOB IS BEING WILLING TO GO INTO NEW DOORS.
I GET INVITED TO MORE THINGS THAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE HERE.
AND I THINK A FA SILL TATOR -- FACILITATOR MUST BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT MANTEL AND REPRESENT YOUR AGENCY AND REGION.
THE MEETING ORCHESTRATION PERHAPS IN ITSELF IS SOMETHING THAT APPEALS TO OUR MEMBERS.
WE STRONGLY ADHERE TO A RECURRING FORMULA.
WE MAKE THE CONFERENCE ROOM AVAILABLE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE COMMITTEE MEETING, FOR OUR MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHEN SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS TAKES PLACE, THAT NETWORKING AND THOSE PRIVATE MEETINGS.
IT IS THEIR ROOM FOR THE DAY.
FIRST, THE ORDER OF BUSINESS IS DVRPC AND STATE D.O.T.
ACTION ITEMS.
WE TRY TO GET ACTION ITEMS OUT OF THE WAY AND GIVE THE COMMITTEE SOMETHING TO DO.
OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MANY EXCELLENT GUEST PRESENTERS, FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR, I COULDN'T LIST THEM ALL.
BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE STAR POWER, IF YOU WILL.
AND FINALLY, WE GO AROUND THE ROOM AND OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TWO-MINUTE REPORTS.
I THINK THIS IS REAL IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T WANT TO MONOPOLIZE THE AGENDA.
THIS MEETING ISN'T ALL ABOUT US.
IT IS ABOUT FREIGHT.
THE MEETING OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS LOOK GOOD IN FRONT OF THEIR PEERS.
WE MIGHT ENCOURAGE A RAILROAD TO DISCUSS AN IMPROVEMENT IT HAS MADE, OR ACKNOWLEDGE SOMEONE WHO HAS WON AN AWARD.
GENERALLY ALL OF THE MEETINGS ARE HELD AT DVRPC.
I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO INVITE NEW PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON THE MEETING AGENDA.
ONE OTHER THING THAT WE DO AT THE MEETINGS IS WE TRY TO GROUP THE MODES SEPARATELY, AND WE FIND THAT THAT GENERATES A LITTLE FRIENDLY COMPETITION IN THE ROOM, AND PROVIDES VISUAL CONFIRMATION THAT EACH MODE IS ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED.
FINALLY, ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER HEAR US SAY IS THAT THIS IS YOUR MEETING.
WE TAKE A MUCH MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH.
WE FEEL THAT IT IS OUR MEETING, AND THE FAC MEMBERS ARE OUR GUESTS.
A PRIMARY MEETING OBJECTIVE IS TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
WE ACHIEVE THIS BY SHOWING OUR HAND, BY PRESENTING THE DVRPC BUSINESS ITEMS TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND THEN WE TRY TO CREATE CREATIVE WAYS FOR THE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF APPROPRIATE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THEN PASSED ON TO THE PROPER COMMITTEE.
WE PRESENT A VARIETY OF TOPICS.
EVERY MPO ITEM ARGUABLY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE FREIGHT-SENSITIVE.
WE DON'T KEEP FREIGHT ON A SEPARATE TRUCK.
AND FREIGHT IS SIMPLY -- IS NOT MERELY A STAND ALONE PLAN.
OUR THREE AREAS OF EMPHASIS, AND THE THING WE KEEP BEATING THEM OVER THE HEAD WITH IS THE LONG-RANGE PLAN, THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND THE WORK PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THEIR IMPACT.
THAT'S WHERE WE WANT THEM TO GIVE US DIRECTION ON.
OH, ONE OTHER THING.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO INVOLVE STAFF MEMBERS IN THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I DON'T SEE MYSELF NECESSARILY AS JUST DOING ALL THE FREIGHT WORK HERE.
I TRY TO INVITE AS MANY STAFF MEMBERS AS I CAN TO THE -- TO THE MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES WHEN APPROPRIATE.
I ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS, AND I WILL HELP THEM HAVE AN AD FREIGHT TWIST TO SOME OF THEIR WORK.
THEY ALWAYS COME AWAY WITH A REALLY GOOD FREIGHT EXPERIENCE WITH THE -- HAVING MET WITH THE COMMITTEE.
SO THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MEETING ORCHESTRATION.
IN BETWEEN TIME, DOWN TIME, WHAT ARE WE DOING?
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK BEYOND THE QUICK-FIX PROJECTS AND THE TURNING PROJECTS.
THAT'S AGREEMENT HERE ARE OTHER MPO IDEAS THAT AN MPO CAN BE ENGAGED IN.
I WILL DESCRIBE THEM AS TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, SPECIAL EVENTS, CONSTITUENT SERVICES AND PARTICIPATION IN THE LARGER FREIGHT COMMUNITY.
THESE THINGS HELP US BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THEY HARNESS SOME OF OUR MPO CAPABILITIES.
THEY EDUCATE OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE FREIGHT COMMUNITY AND INDEED PROMOTE IT.
AND I THINK THEY ALSO PUT US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE ASKING THE FREIGHT COMMUNITY FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS, AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.
THEY SEE FINISHED PRODUCTS, AND THEY DEFINITELY DERIVE SOME SATISFACTION FROM THAT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO DO IS TO TRY TO CREATE TECHNICAL PRODUCTS THAT INTEGRATE ALL OF THE MODES.
SHOW HOW THE PIECES OF THE SYSTEM COME TOGETHER.
I'M NOT GOING TO EXPLAIN ALL THESE, I'M GETTING TIGHT ON TIME HERE.
MANY OF THEM CAN BE FOUND ON OUR AGENCY WEBSITE.
THE ADDRESS IS LISTED THERE.
OUR OVERALL PHILOSOPHY IS TO MAXIMIZE EACH MODE AND TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY.
WE DON'T HAVE A MODAL BIAS.
AND I THINK THESE PRODUCTS REFLECT THAT.
PROBABLY THE ONE THING THAT I HEAR THE MOST INTERESTING THAT I EVER DID WAS A SIMPLE CASE STUDY.
AND THAT WAS TO GET ON A SHIP, A TRUCK, AND A TRAIN, AND FOLLOW LITERALLY A -- AN INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER FLOWING THROUGH THE DELAWARE VALLEY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE MAP IS.
I'M NOT GOING TO ZOOM IN ON IT NOW, YOU MAY WANT TO GO BACK TO IT LATER.
AND THE WRITEUP IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED ON OUR WEBSITE.
BUT IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO -- TO DEVELOP A PRIMER ON INTERMODALISM, HOW DOES IT WORK IN OUR AREA?
THERE IS A -- THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT FREIGHT FLOWS AND DISCUSSION AND WE WILL HAVE OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.
BUT SOMETIMES A CASE STUDY OR AN ANECDOTE MAY SERVE TO GET FREIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND MAKE IT UNDERSTANDABLE TO PEOPLE.
SO I INVITE YOU, PLEASE, TO VISIT SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS ON OUR WEBSITE.
SPECIAL EVENTS ARE ENERGIZING, ANOTHER MAIN ACTIVITY, THE FACILITATOR IS SO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THESE CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO AN FAC MEETING OR THEY CAN BE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS WHICH YOU PLAN FOR, AND YOU LEAN ON AND USE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE, A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE.
IN MAY WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD DO THIS, WE ORGANIZED A 50-MILE TRAIN EXCURSION FOR THE AMERICAN SHORTLINE AND REGIONAL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN PHILADELPHIA.
WE HAD MORE THAN 200 RIDERS ON THE TRAIN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THE DVRPC DID A LOT OF THE LOCAL COORDINATION.
WE EVEN GOT INVOLVED WITH THINGS LIKE INSURANCE ISSUES WHICH WAS REALLY A STRETCH.
WE HELPED SECURE THE LOCOMOTIVES WHICH WERE VINTAGE 1950 PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD EQUIPMENT.
WE WORKED WITH THE RAILROADS TO APPROVE THE ROUTE.
WE PREPARED A TRIP BOOK WITH MAPS AND NARRATIVE TO DESCRIBE WHAT THE PEOPLE WOULD SEE.
AND WE EVEN STAFFED THE TRAIN.
THE EXCURSION WAS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO SHOWCASE THE REGION AND MAKE OUR LOCAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS LOOK GOOD WITH THEIR PEERS.
AGAIN, THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS LISTED HERE.
I DO HAVE TO MENTION LAST YEAR -- LAST OCTOBER, WE OBSERVED THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS A REALLY REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, AND IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE AND ALSO BRING BACK THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHO PUT ALL THIS IN PLACE.
CONSTITUENT SERVICES ARE A KEY PART OF THE FACILITATOR ROLE.
WE ASSIST OUR FAC MEMBERS WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
WE PREPARE MAPS HERE, WE DO AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS.
THESE ARE OFTEN THINGS THEY MAY FIND USEFUL FOR PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY DO.
OUR COUNTIES ARE NOW INCLUDING PIECES ON FREIGHT IN THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.
WE TRY TO GET INVOLVED WITH THEM AND ASSIST THEM.
WE RECEIVE ALL KINDS OF REQUESTS.
JOB REFERRALS, CONTACT INFORMATION.
LAST WEEK I GOT A CALL ABOUT A TRUCK THAT WAS IMPOUNDED WITH TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE CARGO.
I TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE LOOP AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS.
AND ALSO I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER RECOGNITION AWARDS AND LETTERS.
IT IS A REALLY NICE TOUCH.
FREIGHT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND MPO BOUNDARIES, NEITHER DO WE.
PARTICIPATING IN THE LARGER FREIGHT COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING TO OTHER COMMITTEES AND EFFORTS, THAT'S PART OF THE TERRITORY.
I'M ACTIVE WITH THE TRAFFIC CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA, THAT'S A GROUP OF TRAFFIC MANAGERS.
I TRY TO PARTICIPATE AND ASSIST THE LOCAL CONSULAR OFFICES IN TOWN HERE, MEXICO, AND COSTA RICA AND PANAMA, SO ON.
WE ARE FANNING OUT.
WE STARTED OUT LOOKING AT THE INTERMODAL FACILITIES IN OUR REGION, THEN LOOKING AT THE -- IN THE RAIL AND THE WATERWAYS.
JUST BY VIRTUE OF THE ACTIVITY, YOU ARE GOING TO BE LED INTO OTHER AREAS.
AND THESE SIX AREAS HERE SHOW YOU THAT WE HAVE HAD -- HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN EFFORTS IN NORTH JERSEY AND WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, AND EVEN SHERBROOK, FRANCE.
AND THIS STUDY LOOKED AT RAIL CHOKE POINTS, AND CAPACITIES IN THE NORTHEAST.
IN OTHER PARTS OF HARRISBURG AND SO ON.
IT IS REALLY AN EXCITING AREA.
AND YOU WILL GET INVOLVED WITH THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
FINALLY, A LITTLE PLUG -- THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD IS THE PRIMARY RESEARCH BODY FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF FREIGHT COMMITTEES.
ONE OF THE COMMITTEES IS THE INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
IT IS CHAIRED BY STEVE KALE OF THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE FIRST FOUR SPEAKERS ARE ALL MEMBERS OF STEVE'S COMMITTEE.
THE -- THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TRB ACTIVITIES.
YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT ALTRUISTIC IN FREIGHT PLANNING AND GIVE BACK.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED.
OKAY.
OUR FAC IS VERY ACTIVE.
IT SEEMS LIKE MANY GOOD THINGS COME OUT OF IT.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS ARE PERHAPS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT HOW IT IS IMPACTING OUR MPO.
THESE ARE THE TWO BEST EXAMPLES I HAVE TO OFFER.
ONE OF THE FUNDING POTS DVRPC ADMINISTERS IS THE CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
CMAQ.
WE ARE CLASSIFIED AS A SEVERE OZONE NONATTAINMENT AREA AND THESE FUNDS PERMIT US TO TARGET PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE $12 MILLION IN CMAQ FUNDS.
IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.
THERE WERE 54 APPLICATIONS FOR THE FUNDS.
IN THE END, 24 PROJECTS WERE SELECTED BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.
OUT OF THESE.
I'M DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU FIVE WERE FREIGHT PROJECTED SUBMITTED BY THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THEY ARE LISTED HERE.
THE -- HERE IS THE BEAUTY OF THE PROCESS.
WE NOTIFIED THE FAC MEMBERS EARLY ON.
THEY SUBMITTED AND FILLED OUT APPLICATIONS ALL ON THEIR OWN.
ALL OF -- THEY WERE THORN IN WITH THE OTHER CANDIDATE PROJECTS.
ALL OF THEM WERE SUBMITTED AIR QUALITY ANALYSES AND IN THE END THESE FIVE PROJECTS AMONG OTHERS WERE PICKED.
AGAIN, THROUGH THE FAC, WE ARE MERELY SEEKING TO FOSTER INCLUSIVENESS AND RECEPTIVITY TO FREIGHT ISSUES.
WE DON'T HAVE A FREIGHT SET ASIDE FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
WE STRESS GET INVOLVED AND PLAY THE GAME.
WE ALSO ADMINISTER $8 MILLION IN PLANNING FUNDS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM.
MOST OF THE FUNDING GOES TO CONTINUING PROJECTS, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A SMALL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR NEW PROJECTS.
AT THE FAC FALL MEETING EVERY YEAR, WE ASK THE FAC TO ESTABLISH PRIORITIES FOR THE WORK PROGRAM.
AND DVRPC'S PL FUNDS.
TYPICALLY, WE PRESENT 10 IDEAS FOR CANDIDATE STUDIES BASED ON OUR AWARENESS OF CURRENT ISSUES.
AND THEN THIS IS NOT SOPHISTICATED, BUT WE GIVE EACH MEMBER THREE COLORED DOTS TO VOTE ON THE POTENTIAL STUDIES.
USING THE DOTS, THE MEMBERS VOTE ON BALLOTS FOR THEIR FAVORITE STUDIES.
THEY CAN EVEN WEIGHT THEIR VOTES.
WE TALLY UP THE VOTES AND TRANSMIT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE WORK PROGRAM COMMITTEE.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, EVERY TIME THE WORK PROGRAM COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED THE COMMITTEE'S TOP PROJECT FOR FUNDING.
THE PROCESS WE HAVE IS SIMPLE.
IT IS PARTICIPATEORY AND EFFECTIVE.
THE TREND IS OVER TIME THERE IS MORE INTEREST, MORE TIP PROJECTS AND MORE STUDIES INVOLVING FREIGHT.
THESE SUCCESSES DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THEY CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAC.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE COMMITTEE FRESH.
WE WILL CONTINUE EMPHASIZING THE PLAN TIP AND WORK PROGRAM.
HERE ARE FOUR AREAS LISTED I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR FAC GET MORE INVOLVED IN.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE THIRD ONE.
BECAUSE OF TIME.
THE -- OUR TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THEY ARE THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS FROM OUR MEMBER GOVERNMENTS WHO ARE INCREASINGLY CONFRONTED WITH FUNDING DECISIONS IN FREIGHT ISSUES.
THIS YEAR, I'M DEVELOPING A ONE-YEAR FREIGHT PROGRAM MADE UP OF PRESENTATIONS MATERIALS AND FIELD VIEWS TO INCORPORATE INTO THEIR MEETINGS.
THEY HAVE EVEN REQUESTED THAT A FULL-TIME MEMBER OF THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BE NAMED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THE TACK MEETINGS.
SO YES, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO WORK WITH THE OTHER COMMITTEES IN THE COMMISSION, LIKE THE TAC.
IN CLOSING, MY KEY OBSERVATIONS ARE -- YES, FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES CAN SUCCEED.
THIS PLAYS TO ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF AN MPO.
WE HAVE A GREAT ABILITY TO CONVENE PEOPLE TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, AND FACs ARE A BANNER UNDER WHICH YOU CAN NOT JUST FULFILL THE FREIGHT PLANNING REQUIREMENTS, BUT ACTUALLY EXCEED THEM.
PROVIDING A BLEND OF LONG-TERM PROJECTS AND SHORTER-TERM ONES IS IMPORTANT.
THIS YIELDS SOME BENEFIT IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME.
BUT ALSO IT KEEPS THE PROSPECT OF BIG PAYOFFS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY WONDERFUL AND DEDICATED PEOPLE IN THE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION PROFESSION.
THEY ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND SUPPORT FOR ME.
LAST REMARK -- THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT AS A TECHNOLOGY SIDE, A REGULATORY SIDE, A SECURITIES SIDE AND A DATA SIDE.
BUT IT ALSO HAS A PEOPLE SIDE.
FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMIT SEES ARE A GREAT WAY TO CULTIVATE THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF FREIGHT AND TO ENCOURAGE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ALL LEVELS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU TO THE FHWA OFFICE OF PLANNING FOR INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FACs.
THANK YOU, TED.
GREAT PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF THEY DO HAVE QUESTIONS, TO TYPE THEM INTO THE CHAT AREA.
WE WILL BE TAKING QUESTIONS REGARDING TED'S PRESENTATION FOLLOWING GERALD'S PRESENTATION.
IN A MOMENT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO GERALD.
AND HE WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE CATS INTERMODAL ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN START.
THANK YOU.
OKAY, GERALD, GO AHEAD AND CLICK ON YOUR TAB AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
WELL, THANK YOU.
HELLO AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY.
GERALD RAWLING HERE IN CHICAGO.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT'S NOT QUITE THE IMITATION OF TED'S POWERPOINT, BUT I WILL GENERALLY FOLLOW HIS ORDER OF BUSINESS.
AND I WILL START BY JUST BRIEFLY MAKING THE POINT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AGAIN AN MPO APPARATUS HERE.
I THINK A STATE LEVEL ADVISORY BOARD MIGHT BE MADE UP SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY, POSSIBLY LESS PURE TRANSPORTATION AND PERHAPS MORE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATION.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE HEADER SLIDE HERE.
WE HAVE HAD AN INTERMODAL ADVISORY TASK FORCE SINCE 1993, AND ANY DAY NOW, WE WILL HAVE OUR CATS ITAF WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING, SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VISIT US ON YOUR OWN TIME AND INCLINATION.
FIRST, JUST A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CATS SERVICE AREA.
IT IS 4800 SQUARE MILES, SIX COUNTIES, 250 OR SO MUNICIPALITIES WHICH OBVIOUSLY CHICAGO IS THE PROVERBIAL 500-POUND GORILLA.
7.3 OR SO MILLION POPULATION.
WHAT IS THE FREIGHT BUSINESS?
IN THAT CONTEXT?
WE HAVE GOT AN ESTIMATED 115 OR SO THOUSAND PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN FREIGHT-RELATED JOBS.
WE FORECAST THAT TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 163,000 BY 2020.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THE PRESENT PAYROLL ROLE ESTIMATE AND THE FORECAST AND THEN A MULTIPLIER FIGURE AND A FORECASTER OF THE MULTIPLIER.
WE ESTIMATE THIS IS ABOUT 6% OF THE REGIONAL DOMESTIC PRODUCT OR GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT.
NOW WHAT WE WANT TO SHOW YOU SECONDLY IS THE FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM.
WE DEVISED THE NEXT GRAPHIC, WHICH IS A SORT OF SKETCH PLANNING MAP OF THE CATS FREIGHT SERVICE AREA, WE DEVISED THIS AS A VISUAL GRABA AND WHAT MIGHT CONSTITUTE A TYPICAL TRUCK DAY, FOR INSTANCE, IS THE GUY WHO PICKS UP A TRAILER OR CONTAINER FROM ANY ONE OF THOSE GREEN DOTS, WHICH IS A RAIL RAMP, AND DRIVES IT INTO SAY WISCONSIN, UP 94 AND UP TO, SAY, OCONOMOW WHERE A CHAIN HAS AN RDC AND HE MIGHT GO TO DELAVIN, PICK UP A LOAD OF FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCTS AND RETURN BY A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO POSSIBLY EVEN A DIFFERENT RAMP, BUT THAT KIND -- IS KIND OF HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, AND THAT SAY SORT OF MICROGEOGRAPHY, AND THEN THERE'S A LARGER GEOGRAPHY, WHICH WE CALL THE CATCHMENT AREA THAT COVERS THE UPPER MIDWEST, THE NORTH ATLANTIC STATES, AND SOME -- AND THE EASTERN CANADIAN PROVINCES, AND THIS IN MANY WAYS DEFINES THE SORT OF CORE PRODUCT, THE BUSINESSES OF THE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS.
IT IS THE REGIONAL AND SUPRA REGIONAL PICKUP AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTERMODAL TRAFFIC, ALL THE WAY FROM RIGHT ACROSS THE STATE LINE, KELLOGG IN BATTLE CREEK, ISUZU IN LAFAYETTE, ALL OVER THE SERVICE AREA ON THE SCREEN THERE, AND THAT IS THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE TASK FORCE SERVICE AREA.
SPEAKING OF THE CONDUCT OF THE TASK FORCE ITSELF, MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS THAT IT IS LIKE ANY OTHER HUMAN COOPERATIVE, TO BE SUCCESSFUL IT TAKES WORK, DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATION.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE ASSETS AND THE FOIBLS OF THE PERSONS INVOLVED.
AS I OFTEN SAY FROM MY SOCCER LIFE, NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A GOAL KEEPER AND NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A WINGER, BUT 11 GOAL KEEPERS IS NO KIND OF A TEAM EITHER.
WE HAVE REINVENTED OUR COMPOSITION A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THIS EIGHT, NINE-YEAR PERIOD AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN.
TO COMPARE WITH ONE OF TED'S EARLIER PRESENTATIONS, THE NEXT EXHIBIT, THIS IS THE MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE RAILS, MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER AND AIR INTERESTS.
WE HAVE CONSULTANTS, ACADEMICS UCIVIC INTEREST GROUPS, REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE PUBLIC SECTOR PLANNING AGENCIES AND ALSO THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES.
WE HAVE A BONA FIDE JOHN Q PUBLIC MEMBER, AND WE DON'T INSTITUTIONALIZE IT ON THIS SLIDE BUT WE OFTEN HAVE GUEST SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE HOSTED REPRESENTATIVES NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UK, NETHERLANDS, ITALY, JAPAN, MALAWEE, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO SIT THROUGH A TASK FORCE MEETING AND JUST WATCH THE INTERACTION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSPARENT INTERACTION IS PART OF THE STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OVER THE YEARS, THE ABILITY TO FORM INTO DISCIPLINARY STUDY TEAMS, OR ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
AGAIN JUST LIKE THE DVRPC.
OUR CASE IN POINT RIGHT NOW MIGHT BE THE -- WHAT WE CALL THE CBHAS PROJECT, THAT STANDS FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE HIGHWAY AUTOMATION SYSTEM, WHERE THE CATS TASK FORCE IS TEAMED WITH BERKELEY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-CHICAGO, AND THE ITS PROGRAM OFFICE OF I D.O.T.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS LOOK FOR A FIELD OPERATIONAL TEST OPPORTUNITY.
ALSO AGAIN I THINK TO BE SUCCESSFUL, ONE HAS TO ACCEPT AN ELEMENT OF RISK-TAKING, BECAUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL THIS, AT LEAST WHEN WE GOT INTO IT, IT WAS MUCH MORE OBVIOUS EARLY ON.
THERE IS VERY MUCH AN ELEMENT OF DEPARTING FROM THE ESTABLISHED ORDER OF DOING BUSINESS.
AND CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM, AND MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THAT ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR I WAS ON A REGIONAL PANEL WHERE I DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A SHOW-STOPPING 36,000 TRUCKS A DAY TRAVELING BETWEEN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA ON THE IHE 94 ARTERIAL WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE BOWMAN EXPRESSWAY ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA.
AND THERE I JUST LAID OUT THE ARGUMENT THAT IN CONTRAST TO THE 36,000 TRUCKS A DAY AT ONE POINT ON THE MAP, THERE ARE ABOUT 4,700 BODIES DISTRIBUTED OVER THE ENTIRE 4,800 SQUARE MILE MPO PLANNING AREA.
SOME OR ALL OF THOSE MIGHT BE SERVED BY A BRT INSTALLATION, BRT SEEMS TO BE THE FLAVOR OF THE DAY.
AND THEN I LEFT THE QUESTION HANGING HAVE WE BASICALLY COMPARED AND CONTRASTED THESE TWO CONSTITUENTSYS?
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, I DON'T WANT TO BORE YOU WITH THAT MEANING THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE TO THE WHOLE CATS COMMITTEE APPARATUS.
LOOK AT OUR MAINSTREAMING PAPER WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH RECORD 1613 OR LOOK AT OUR WHITE PAPER PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL FREIGHT PARTNERSHIP IN 1995.
BOTH OF THESE WILL BE UP ON OUR WEBSITE AS SOON AS IT OPENS UP.
SO I RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO THAT.
THE NEXT EXHIBIT IS A PREYSEE-OF- -- OF OUR FREIGHT LIBRARY, THIS IS NOT EVERYTHING WE HAVE WRITTEN, BUT IT OUTLINES IN MANY WAYS WHAT THE EVOLUTION HAS BEEN, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, TOO, TO WATCH HOW THE DIALOGUE AND THE SCIENCE OF THE TASK 4S HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME.
THE EARLY GLUE AND FINDING THE GLUE THAT BINDS THE TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP IS AN IMPORTANT THING.
THE EARLY GLUE WAS THAT A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY AND THE MOTOR CARRIER INDUSTRY PUT THE RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS AND THEN A SMALLER HANDFUL OF CATS STAFF GOT TOGETHER AND FELT THAT IT WAS A PROPITIOUS TIME TO SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY CONNECT THE FREIGHT DOTS.
ONE OF THOSE TIMES IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN THAT SHAKESPEARE DIAGNOSED.
WE ALL LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID WE ARE INTENT ON BEING RELEVANT ON HAVING AN IMPACT AND NOT JUST SATISFYING A REQUIREMENT.
AND IT BECAME OBVIOUS EARLY ON THAT THE ISSUE WASN'T JUST THE SCALE OF FORECASTING GROWTH IN FREIGHT ACTIVITY, ALTHOUGH WE IDENTIFIED THAT ISSUE FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND WHETHER IT IS 80% OR A HUNDRED PERCENT IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THAT IS JUST AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.
BUT IT BECAME ALSO AN ISSUE OF FREIGHT MOBILITY, VELOCITY, CAPACITY, CONGESTION, BECAUSE MY TAKE ON IT, MY THEORY WAS, AND IT STILL IS, REALLY, THAT THE MAJOR ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE ALL SEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS IN LOGISTICS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT AND THE EVOLUTION OF EQUIPMENT HAVE BASICALLY STARTED TO MAX OUT, AND WE WILL SOON BE BACK IF WE ARE NOT ALREADY TO TAKING A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERLYING QUESTIONSING, IF WE DO EXPERIENCE THIS 80 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN THE FREIGHT IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WHERE WILL WE PUT IT ALL?
AND THE SECONDARY LEVEL, THE DESIGN KIND OF LEVEL OF QUESTIONS, WHAT WILL BE THE SIZE OF THE UNIT, THE TERMINALS, THE TRAFFIC LANES, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PLAN FOR?
SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME DAYS, I WOULD JUST AS SOON BE LUCKY AS GOOD.
THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF CERTAIN DEPUTY AT THE BEGINNING, ONE OF OUR FINDING MEMBERS WAS ON THE NATIONAL INTERMODAL COMMISSION THAT REPORTED OUT IN 1994.
AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE GOT OURSELVES INVITED TO ADDRESS THE NATIONAL FREIGHT PARTNERSHIP IN THE U.S. D.O.T.
IN 1995.
WHICH WAS VERY TIMELY EARLY EXPOSURE.
HOLLYWOOD TELLS YOU THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS BAD EXPOSURE.
AND THEN WE STRUCK A LOCAL CHORD OVER THE CONNECTED ISSUE, BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER IN COMMON CAUSE, AND IT ADVANCED OUR DIALOGUE WITH BOTH THE U.S. D.O.T. AND THE STATE D.O.T. IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERMODAL CONNECTORS GUIDANCE, BECAUSE WE -- I RECOGNIZED VERY QUICKLY THAT A RAIL YARD LIKE THIS DOES 30 TIMES THE THRESHOLD VOLUME THAT WAS IDENTIFIED OR RECOMMENDED IN THE GUIDANCE.
THESE VARIOUS ACTIONS IN TURN BROUGHT OUT A WHOLE PANOPLY OF INTERMODAL ISSUES.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOULD SHOW A CERTAIN CHRONOLOGY.
YOU CAN -- AGAIN YOU CAN SEE THAT THESE ARE KIND OF MILESTONE EVENTS.
AFTER THE CONNECTORS ISSUE, WE TURNED ON TO THE VOLUMES THAT WE HAD UNCOVERED BY DOING THE CONNECTORS RESEARCH, AND THAT SHORTLY LED TO THE SOUND BYTE THAT CHICAGO, MORE PROPERLY NORTHEAST ILLINOIS, IS THE THIRD-LARGEST PORT IN THE WORLD AFTER HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE.
SOME OF YOU I THINK MAY BE TIRING OF HEARING THIS BY NOW.
IT IS GETTING WIDELY USED.
AND THEN THAT ISSUE CARRIED INTO OUR FORECASTING PROJECT.
IN 1997/98, WHEN WE BEGAN TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION, IF -- WHAT IS THE LIKELY FUTURE OF THIS INTERMODAL BUSINESS AND WHAT MIGHT IT REQUIRE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IF WE CHOOSE TO HELP IT PROSPER?
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, AS I SAID, WE TURNED OUR ATTENTION TO SOME HANDLING ISSUES, WHICH IS REPRESENTATIVE.
AND IN THE GREATER SCHEME OF THINGS, ALL THESE ACTIONS IN TURN HAVE, ON THE ONE HAND, LENT SUPPORT TO THE EVOLUTION OF THE CREATE PROJECT, CREATE STANDS FOR CHICAGO REGION ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY PROJECT, WHICH IS A VERY LARGE-SCALE REINVESTMENT IN THE RAIL NETWORK IN THE REGION HERE, AND THERE'S A VERY USEFUL FOUR-PAGE SYNOPSIS IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF TRAINS MAGAZINE.
WE HAVE ALSO LENGTH SUPPORT TO ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT EVOLUTION, WHICH IS THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ADOPTED FREIGHT AS PART OF THEIR AGENDA, A COUPLE OF QUICK EXAMPLES, THE METROPOLIS GROUP GOT FOUNDATION MONEY AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A REGIONAL FREIGHT PLAN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND THEN ACROSS THE STATE LINE, THE PORTS OF INDIANA'S AUTHORITY IS CONVENING A MAJOR LOGISTICS CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH TO SELF-EXAMINE, THAT IS THE ROLE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INDIANA IN THE REGION'S FREIGHT BUSINESS.
SO WHAT ALSO MAY HAVE HAPPENED IS THAT WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF A SORT OF AC -- ACTIVIST OR MAVERICK TYPE PERIOD AND ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF MAINSTREAMING INTERMODAL FREIGHT IN THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS.
SO IT MIGHT BE ALSO A BIT OF A CONPENSIONAL.
WE RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM TRB SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND ALSO OUR CHAIRMAN FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RECEIVED A SIMILAR AWARD FROM AMPO WHEN WE CLAIMED WE HAD ALREADY DONE THIS, MAINSTREAMED INTO MODAL FREIGHT, WE REALLY HAVE GOT THERE, I THINK, RIGHT ABOUT THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
BECAUSE WHAT IS VERY INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SEA CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL MINDSET IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AS RECENTLY AS THREE YEARS AGO THE SENTIMENT WAS RUNNING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET RID OF ALL THIS FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION AND THE UNSIGHTLY REAL ESTATE THAT COMES WITH IT?
AND WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO CONDUCT ALL THIS FREIGHT ACTIVITY ON BEHALF OF THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES?
WHEREAS NOW THE SENTIMENT IS MORE IN THE LINE OF, WELL, WE CAN SEE THAT WE ARE PERFORMING A REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SERVICE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL TRADE, SO JUST GIVE US A LARGE ENOUGH CHECK AND WE CAN KEEP PERFORMING THAT SERVICE.
AND IF YOU ANSWER QUESTION WHAT HAPPENED IN THE INTERVENING PERIOD, AMONGST OTHER THINGS THERE WAS THE DOT-COM BUST.
AFTER WHICH 1150,000 OR SO REAL JOBS IN FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION LOOK BETTER THAN THEY USED TO.
OKAY, SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME ON THIS BEFORE.
AND I TALKED AT A MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA A FEW YEARS BACK, AND PRODUCED A VARIATION OF THIS.
THIS IS OUR NEXT IMAGE.
THIS IS WHAT I CALL THE THREE Rs OF FREIGHT PLANNING.
YOU HAVE GOT THE LONG-RANGE INITIATIVE, GET SOMETHING FREIGHT INTO THE MYSTERIOUS RTP PROCESS, THE SHORTER RANGE IS EXPLORE THE IDEA OF A QUICK FIX OR QUICK RESPONSE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, PROJECT-SPECIFIC AGENDA, WHAT WE CALLED IT HERE, WAS THE IMPROVEMENT NEEDS WORKING GROUP, AND WE SOLICITED PROJECT PROPOSALS, MOST OF WHICH CAME FROM THE INDUSTRY.
WE GOT 63 PROPOSALS IN THE PERIOD 1997/98.
AND WE HAVE 33 OF THEM COMPLETED.
AND A FURTHER 12 OF THEM ARE UNDER WAY.
I MEAN THESE ARE MOSTLY SORT OF SITE-SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WERE CONDUCTED ON WHAT THE INDUSTRY CALLED THE INTERMODAL CONNECTORS.
MUCH OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS CAME FROM THE CHICAGO D.O.T.
AND THE ILLINOIS D.O.T., AND BY THE TIME WE ARE DONE WITH IT, WE WILL HAVE ABOUT A 70% IMPLEMENTATION RATE, AND AGAIN ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE WILL POST ON OUR WEBSITE WILL BE THE CLOSEOUT REPORT FOR THIS PROJECT SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW WE WENT ABOUT IT.
IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE PHOTO GALLERY.
TED TALKED HIMSELF ABOUT IT.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE YET IN ANY FORMAL SENSE.
BUT I PICKED OUT A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
THE NEXT IMAGE IS IN FACT THE FAMOUS KEDZIE AVENUE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW.
THIS USED TO BE THE CHAIR OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE.
SHE SHOT THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
AND LIKE IT SAYS ON THE CAPTION, YOU JUST HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF A CIRCUS IT WAS AT THIS LOCATION WITH AN UNIMPROVED STREET AND NO TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM.
AND THEN THE NEXT PICTURE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE SORT OF UNIVERSAL IMPEDIMENT THAT YOU ENCOUNTER, OR WE ENCOUNTER IN THE OLD INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND GEOMETRY ISSUES ARE HARDER TO REMEDY THAN OVERHEAD CLEARANCE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE CONFLICT WITH CONTIGUOUS LAND USES.
AND THE THIRD PART OF OUR 3R PROJECT LIST WAS OUTREACH, GENERALLY.
WE HAVE DRIED ALONG WITH THE -- THE PROJECT-SPECIFIC RESEARCH, TO PUT TOGETHER SOME KIND OF PRESS KIT TYPE MATERIALS, ESPECIALLY THE SORT OF LEAVE-BEHIND FORMAT.
WE FIRST PRODUCED A BLACK AND WHITE BROCHURE IN ABOUT 1997/98.
WE JUST REDID IT IN COLOR WITH ALL THE STATISTICS UPDATED BECAUSE WE HAVE FELT -- I HAVE FELT PARTICULARLY ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT PETER WAS TALKING ABOUT LAST MONTH ABOUT THE PICTURE OR THE MENTAL IMAGE OR THE IDENTITY.
AND I'M A GREAT SUBSCRIBER TO THAT, THAT A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS.
I THINK THAT IT WORKS ON TWO LEVELS.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE FREIGHT BUSINESS IN THE MPO PLANNING AREA?
I THINK IN CERTAIN WAYS, MANY OF THE BIGGER MPOs WERE NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT, WE ARE ALL IN SOME KIND OF TRADE BUSINESS, AND WE ARE ALL IN SOME KIND OF REGIONAL P & D.
I THINK WHAT WE SHOWED YOU EARLIER WITH ONE OF THOSE IMAGES, WE WILL FLASH IT UP QUICKLY AGAIN RIGHT NOW, I MEAN OUR P & D AREA, IT COVERS SOMETHING LIKE AN ESTIMATED 40% OF THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE COUNTRY AT LARGE.
SO WE HAVE A HUGE HINTERLAND -- HINTERLAND THAT WE SERVE.
I THINK WE HAD SOME REASONABLE SUCCESS WITH THIS EXPLANATION WITH A PROFESSIONAL AND POLITICAL CLASSES.
I CAN SAY THAT AGAIN THAT CHICAGO IS A THIRD-LARGEST PORT AFTER HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE WAS A REAL KILLER SOUND BYTE AND IT HAS A LOT OF IMPACT.
BUT MY QUEST FOR THE MOMENT, WHICH I'M STRUGGLING WITH, IS HOW TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON THE BODY POLITIC AT LARGE, WHAT I CALL THE CHATTERING CLASSES.
WE USE THE PICTURE BACK AGAIN TO THE -- TO THE KEDZIE AVENUE PICTURE AND SAY, TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.
THERE IS -- IT IS THE GENERAL RETAIL STORY BOARD, BUT IT IS A -- ANONYMOUS WHEN YOU FIRST LOOK AT.
WHAT DOES HYUNDAI OR COSTCO OR EVERGREEN MEAN TO JOHN Q PUBLIC?
WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW, I THINK, GET THE ASSOCIATION THAT SAYS IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THAT COUNTS.
IT IS WAL-MART, IT IS TARGET, IT IS PAYLESS, MEANING ITS CLOTHES, ITS ELECTRONICS, ITS HOUSEHOLD GOODS.
I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THE KILLER SOUND BYTE IN THIS AREA, SOMETHING THAT SAYS, WHAT IS IN THAT BOX IS WHAT YOU ORDERED.
IN MINNESOTA A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BEANY BABIES MANIA.
I WAS USING THAT AS THE IMMEDIATE POINT OF REFERENCE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT A CRAZE ON THAT SCALE WILL EVER BE REPEATED.
BUT THINKING ABOUT IT NOW, I MEAN, 15,000 BOBBLEHEAD DOLLS TO THE FIRST 15,000 PEOPLE THROUGH THE TURNSTYLES, THEY HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THAT MENTAL ASSOCIATION IS THERE YET.
I ALSO HAVE SAID TO SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE -- HAVE STOOD WITH ME IN THIS POSITION ON THE SIDEWALK AT KEDZIE, THE OUTGOING BOX IS SCRAP PAPER.
THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE IT, IT WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU AS A FIREWORK CASING.
SO THE -- THAT'S THE SORT OF OVERVIEW, AND I HAVE TRIED IN MANY WAYS TO FOLLOW WHAT THE TEMPLATE THAT THE -- THE SPLENDID TEMPLATE THAT TED SET OUT.
I SHOULD MAKE AN EMPHASIS HERE, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE DO IS WHAT WE DON'T DO.
WE DON'T TAKE SIDES.
WE DON'T VOTE ON MATTERS LIKE BILLS IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.
WE DON'T VOTE ON LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES.
BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL THAT THAT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE TASK FORCE ITSELF.
BUT WE DO -- WE DO DEBATE THEM OPENLY, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE WEALTH OF WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE THAT OUR MEMBERS BRING GETS INTO PLAY.
SO I'M NEARLY AT THE END, I HAVE FOLLOWED TED'S TEMPLATE.
I'M GOING TO FREE-LANCE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AS HARRY COLDWELL USED TO SAY, HE CAN FOLLOW THE SCRIPT UP TO PAGE 4 AND THEN HE JUST GOES OFF.
SO I'M GOING OFF FOR JUST A MINUTE.
I'M GOING TO PUT UP ONE MORE EXHIBIT.
I WILL JUST WALK YOU THROUGH THIS.
THESE ARE -- THESE ARE MAINLY AIMED AT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST GETTING ON TO THE LEARNING CURVE.
EXERCISE PRUDENCE.
THAT MEANS TRY NOT TO GET YOURSELF OUT ON A PLANK FROM WHICH YOU CAN'T GET BACK.
LIKE ADVOCATING CONTAINER SERVICE ON THE GREAT LAKES OR REGULATING TRUCK HOURS OF OPERATIONS.
MY TAKE ON IT IS IT IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR JOB TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND THE FACTORS BEHIND THE PROBLEM, AND MAYBE TO MODEL OR HYPOTHESIZE SOME OF THE RESPONSES, BUT RATHER THAN JUMPING TO A PRECONCEIVED CONCLUSION, I THINK IT IS BETTER TO RAISE IT AS A -- RAISE THE ISSUE AS A QUESTION, LIKE WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE CONTAINER SERVICE VIABLE ON THE GREAT LAKES?
OR WHAT ARE THE HALLMARKS OF THOSE BUSINESS THAT ALREADY OPERATE AT NIGHT AND ON WEEKENDS AND HOW COULD THAT BE REPLICATED?
SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO IS GET OUT AND ABOUT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, SUNDAY MORNING IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE COFFEE AND DONUTS TO THE RAIL OR TRUCK TERMINAL, JUST CLIMB ON THE CAB AND ASK THE DRIVER WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
BECAUSE THIS IS BASIC MARKET RESEARCH, THIS IS HOW YOU FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SECOND-GUESS THE OPERATORS.
I DON'T SAY IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, I HAVE GOT AN ENGLISH ACCENT AND I GET ABOUT A 30-SECOND GRACE PERIOD BEFORE THE TRUCK DRIVER SAYS, I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT IT IS WORTH A TRY.
TELL YOUR TRANSPORT MEMBER -- TASK FORCE MEMBERS SHARE RESEARCH.
TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE WORKING ON AND SAY, DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SENSE TO YOU?
BECAUSE IT IS BETTER TO GET EARLY ADVICE AND MAKE SENSE THAN TO PLOW ON AND THEN LATER BE TOLD, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO TRY THIS FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ARE TRYING IT NOW.
SO SPEAK OUT IN PUBLIC.
OUR FREIGHT STAFF HAS SPOKEN TO TRB, TO IANA, COUNCIL OF LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT, AMPO.
BASICALLY ANYWHERE WE CAN FIND A SYMPATHETIC MICROPHONE.
WE HAVE BEEN TO AND SPOKEN AT A NUMBER OF U.S. D.O.T.
SPONSORED SEMINARS AND FOCUS GROUPS.
IT IS NOT GRANDSTANDING, IT IS JUST EXPLAINING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.
WE HAVE OUR OWN PUBLISHING HOUSE, AND IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THAT -- CATS, THAT IS.
IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE PUBLISHED MORE RESEARCH PAPERS ON FREIGHT THAN ANY OTHER TOPIC.
WE PUBLISHED UNDER OUR OWN NAME IN JOURNALS LIKE TRAFFIC WORLD, TRANSPORT TOPICS, ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE.
YOU NAME IT, WE TRIED TO BE THERE IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN.
AND WE ARE STILL QUOTED WIDELY, SOME OF OUR MATERIALS ARE GETTING LONG IN THE TOOTH, BUT PEOPLE STILL QUOTE THEM.
AND THEY -- THE LAST THING ABOUT THE MEDIA KIT, TRY AND HAVE AN IDEA OF FOR WHAT YOU -- WHAT CALLS YOU ARE GOING TO GET FROM THE LOCAL MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
THE -- IN OUR CASE, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES, THEY ALWAYS THINK YOU HAVE THE ANSWER AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, HOW MANY BOATS, TRAINS, PLANES, HOW MANY JOBS, AND WHAT TYPE OF COMMODITIES BY WEIGHT AND VALUE.
SO THE OBJECT IS TO TRY AND GET OUT AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND HAVE AT LEAST SOME IDEA WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
LASTLY, RESOURCES, WHERE TO GO TO GET THE INFORMATION AND DATA.
SUCH AS THE FREIGHT ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK.
THIS IS MY LAST GESTURE.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A PLUG FOR THE FREIGHT ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK AND FOR ALL OF THE STAFF OF FEDERAL HIGHWAYS OFFICE IN FREIGHT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS, PAST AND PRESENT AND ALSO THEIR CONTRIBUTING CONSULTANTS ON WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SPLENDID PIECE OF SCHOLARSHIP.
YOU GET A CHANCE TO KNOW BRUCE LAMBERT NEXT.
IF YOU DIAL IN NEXT MONTH WHEN THE LINES ARE OPEN ON TALKING FREIGHT, YOU WILL TALK TO BRUCE.
AND YOU WILL ALSO TALK TO FALIX AND I WILL BE THERE AND I HOPE YOU ARE TOO.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU.
THANK YOU, GERALD.
I'M DONE, JENNIFER.
THANK YOU.
I HOPE EVERYBODY FOUND THESE TWO PRESENTATIONS INTERESTING.
I'M GOING TO START OFF THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION WITH A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE POSTED ONLINE.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH THOSE, WE WILL OPEN UP THE PHONE LINES FOR PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OVER THE PHONE.
AND AGAIN, BECAUSE TIME IS LIMITED, WE MAY NOT TO GET ALL QUESTIONS.
BUT WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THE LISTSERV TO USE QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I WILL PUT THE LISTSERV WEB ADDRESS BACK UP.
LET'S START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION.
TED, WHAT TOPICS DO YOU USE IN YOUR FAC MEETINGS?
?
WELL, WE -- HELLO?
WE ARE HERE.
OKAY.
WE REALLY -- I THINK ONE OF THE SLIDES I TRIED TO GET AT SAID THAT WE DO NOT RESTRICT OURSELVES TO WHAT I WOULD CALL, YOU KNOW, PURELY FREIGHT TOPICS.
THE EMPHASIS OF THE TOPICS ON THE -- FROM THE DVRPC PERSPECTIVE IS THINGS ON THE PLAN AND THE TIP AND THE WORK PROGRAM.
THOSE THINGS ARE ALWAYS GOING ON.
WE ARE JUST NOW PREPARING A LONG-RANGE 20/30 PLAN.
SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE LITTLE TIPS, I MIGHT HAVE GLOSSED OVER THIS DURING THE PRESENTATION, WAS THAT WE -- WE ALWAYS SET MEETING DATES A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
AND THAT WAY, I CAN KIND OF LOOK AROUND AND SURVEY THE LANDSCAPE HERE, SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE COMMISSION, AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, AND THEN APPROACH A PROJECT MANAGER, IF THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY FREIGHT THAT I'M NOT WORKING ON, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TIP UPDATE OR LET'S SAY THE CMAQ PROGRAMMING IS COMING UP, AND I WILL ASK THAT INDIVIDUAL TO COME IN AND MAKE A PRESENTATION.
SO IT IS THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS THAT THEY CAN IMPACT.
WE HAVE ALSO DONE THINGS ON OUR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND TRAFFIC COUNTS AND TRAFFIC SURVEYING.
SO IT IS KIND OF A VARIETY, BUT THE BULK IS THE PLAN, THE TIP AND THE WORK PROGRAM.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
SOMEONE SAYS THEY WERE SURPRISED -- THIS IS FOR GERALD -- THAT CHICAGO IS SUCH A LARGE PORT.
IS THE PORT MEASURED IN TERMS OF CARGO OR DOLLAR VALUE?
THE FIRST ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THAT IT IS -- I'M TALKING ABOUT A METAPHORICAL DRY PORT, THERE IS A PORT OF CHICAGO BY A CORE OF ENGINEERS, AND STANDARDS, AND THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.
THAT ITSELF DOES ABSOLUTELY NO SERIOUS INTERMODAL BUSINESS.
WHAT WE -- THIS WAS A MENTAL IMAGE THAT WE PAINTED TO SHOW THAT CHICAGO, THE REGION, THROUGH 21 SEPARATE BUT ACCUMULATED RAIL YARDS DOES RIGHT NOW SOMETHING LIKE 6.5 MILLION LIFTS A YEAR WHICH TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT 11.5 OR 12 MILLION TEUs, WHICH IS ALMOST THE EQUIVALENT OF THE SUM TOTAL OF TEUs PROCESSED THROUGH WEST COAST PORT.
IT WAS MEANT TO PORTRAY THE IMAGE THAT MUCH OF THE STUFF THAT COMES OVER THE COASTLINE THROUGH THE REAL MARITIME TIDE WATER PORTS IS PUT ON A TRAIN AND SENT TO CHICAGO WHERE THE DISTRIBUTION TRIAGE TAKES PLACE.
SO WHEREAS IT IS WATER-TO-LAND AT A TRADITIONAL PORT, IT IS RAIL-TO-HIGHWAY AND VICE VERSA AT THE CORE AND THE INLAND DRY PORT.
SO THAT'S HOW WE GET -- THAT'S HOW WE GET TO BE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUME PROCESS, HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE ARE SOMEWHERE IN THE 18 MILLION, 19 MILLION RANGE RIGHT NOW.
CHICAGO IS THIRD WITH 11.5 OR 12, AND FOURTH IS THE COMBINATION OF LONG BEACH AND LOS ANGELES AT SOMETHING LIKE .5.
AND IT IS MEASURED IN TEUs.
IS THAT CLEAR TO -- I MEAN, ANYBODY CAN CALL ME AND WE WILL DISCUSS IT AND I WILL SEND YOU LOTS MORE MATERIAL ON THAT.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE -- THE SORT OF THE IMAGERY TO BEGIN WITH, IT IS A PROBLEM.
THANK YOU, GERALD.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR TED AND GERALD.
COULD YOU GIVE SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES TO KEEP THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPANTS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS?
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE COMMITTEE MEETING FROM BEING A SHOW AND TELL SESSION OR A PUBLIC AGENCY GATHERING?
TED, GO AHEAD FIRST.
OKAY, I WILL SAY RECURRING AGENDA.
AND WE -- ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT MONOPOLIZE THE AGENDA, WE ALWAYS PUT OUR DVRPC BUSINESS ITEMS FIRST ON THE AGENDA.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND HAVE SOME IMPACT.
SECONDLY, AGAIN, OWING TO OUR GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE D.O.T.s, WHO USE THE COMMITTEE AS A RESOURCE FOR THEIR PLANS AND INITIATIVES AND FUNDING PROGRAMS, THAT THEY HAVE FOR FREIGHT, THEY GO SECOND.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME TIME AT THE END, BUT IN TERMS OF THE BUSINESS ITEMS, THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IN, AND IT IS KIND OF A -- LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD, OUR BUSINESS ITEMS GO FIRST.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS THERE TO DELIBERATE ABOUT.
AND THEN TIME PERMITTING, WE HAVE THESE -- WE WILL ALLOW FOR TWO-MINUTE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
AND IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE FIRST PART OF THAT QUESTION, WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKING HOW DO YOU KEEP THE PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVED?
IT IS A -- WELL, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY PRESENTATION.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS, AND IT IS BY ALLOWING THEM TO IMPACT YOUR PLAYING PROCESS AND BY BEING HONEST AND SHOWING THEM WHAT YOU ARE DOING ALLOWING THEM TO PROVIDE INPUT.
IT IS BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL PRODUCTS THAT THEY PERHAPS DIDN'T CONCEIVE OF.
GERALD MENTIONED THE PHOTO GALLERY, WE HAVE ONE, IT IS ABOUT 60 DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES.
ALL OUR FREIGHT PEOPLE FROM THE AREA SENT US PICTURES OF OPERATIONS AND FACILITIES HERE, AND MUSHROOM FARMING, SHIPBUILDING, SUPERMARKET PRODUCE.
THOSE ARE THINGS, BECAUSE OF THE THEIR MULTIMODALISM, CROSS-CUTTING ALL KINDS OF MODES, THAT EVEN THE FREIGHT PEOPLE MAY NOT NECESSARILY CONCEIVE OF, AND THEY LIKE TO SEE THOSE THINGS.
WE CAN OFTEN DO A NICE JOB WITH GRAPHICS AND SO ON.
THEY -- AGAIN THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, BUT MAYBE THEY MISS SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
LEARNING HOW TO ASK PEOPLE FOR THINGS.
THAT'S OKAY.
THEY RESPOND IN KIND AS LONG AS THEY ARE REASONABLE AND SPECIFIC, THAT'S DEVM HOW YOU CREATE SOME RELATIONSHIPS.
SOME DATA OR PHOTOGRAPHS OR WHATEVER.
GERALD, DO YOU HAVE INPUT ON THAT?
I MADE NOTES.
THE FIRST THING WE ALWAYS DO IS WE ALWAYS HAVE A WHIP AROUND.
EVERYBODY GETS 30 SECONDS OR 60 SECONDS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TO SAY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
OR WHAT THEY KNOW IS BEING DONE OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE TASK FORCE AND THIS MIGHT BE LIKE A COUNTYWIDE CROSSING ANALYSIS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO EVERYBODY IS AS INFORMED AS WE CAN MAKE THEM.
WE HAVE SPECIALS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
WE HAD A FULL HOUSE NOT TOO LONG AGO WHERE WE HAD A TRAFFIC MANAGER IN AND SHE EXPLAINED EXACTLY HOW THEY BUY TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.
I MEAN, WE TRY AND HAVE IT GROUNDED.
THE SECOND PRINCIPLE IS THAT IS WE RESIPICATE.
OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS, OUR PUBLIC SECTOR TASK FORCE MEMBERS GO TO THE CHICAGO PIGGYBACK ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETINGS, WE GO OUT AND MEET THEM ON THEIR OWN TERMS, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE QUESTIONS ARISE SOMETIME.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND WHY?
WE DO HAVE DISCIPLINE.
TED HAD A SLIDE THAT I DON'T THINK WENT UP TODAY, BUT IT WAS CALLED "MANAGEMENT." SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE ARE -- WE START ON TIME.
WE END ON TIME.
WE FOLLOW THE PROCESS.
WE MAKE SURE THAT IT IS NOT -- THAT IT STAYS ON TRACK.
AND ALSO WE ARE STUDIOUSLY NEUTRAL.
WHEN WE GOT STARTED, THE -- BECAUSE THE CHAIRPERSON HAS ALWAYS BEEN FROM THE RAIL INDUSTRY AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE ARCANE RULES OF THE CATS STRUCTURE THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY INDUSTRY THAT IS QUALIFIED TO CHAIR A PRIVATE-SECTOR -- A PRIVATE-SECTOR FREIGHT TASK FORCE.
WE HAD TO INVEST A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY EXPLAINING TO THE OTHER MODES, PARTICULARLY THE MULTICARRIER GUYS, THAT WE WERE NOT A STALKING HORSE FOR THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, IT IS A CONSTANT DIALOGUE, AND EVERY SORT OF THIRD MEETING OR SO, WE JUST CALL IN A SMALL TRUCKLOAD OF FAMOUS STUFFED CHICAGO PIZZAS AND EVERYBODY STAYS FOR HALF AN HOUR OR AN HOUR, AND KIBITZ.
I MEAN, THOSE THAT WANT TO.
AND THAT AGAIN IS HOW YOU LEARN HOW THE OTHER GUYS ARE DOING, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE DIALOGUE EVOLVES.
YEAH, I PARTICULARLY LIKE GERALD'S COMMENT ABOUT GOING TO OTHER PEOPLE'S MEETINGS.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A -- PART OF THE GIVE AND TAKE RELATIONSHIP, AND THERE ARE OTHER ACTIVITIES GOING ON.
WHERE IT BODES WELL FOR YOUR AGENCY TO SHOW UP.
IT KEEPS YOU INFORMED ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES, BEYOND THE MPO.
I THINK THE -- I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT GETTING OUT THERE AND ATTENDING OTHER MEETINGS.
THANK YOU.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK ONE MORE QUESTION, AND THEN WE WILL OPEN UP THE PHONE LINES FOR ATTENDEES TO ASK QUESTIONS THEMSELVES.
AGAIN, IF WE DIDN'T GET TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT YOU MAY HAVE TYPED IN, IT WILL BE POSTED THROUGH THE FREIGHT PLANNING LISTSERV.
I WILL ASK WHAT KEY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE YOU SEEN IMPLEMENTED THROUGH YOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES?
GERALD, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND START OFF?
WOULD YOU JUST SAY THAT QUESTION AGAIN?
WHAT KEY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE WE SEEN --.
IMPLEMENTED THROUGH YOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
I WILL JUST REPEAT A SIMPLE OVERVIEW OF THAT IMPROVEMENT NEEDS WORKING GROUP THAT WE INSTITUTED A PROJECT THAT SOLICITED SOMETHING LIKE 63 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT WERE LARGELY OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO WHAT YOU -- WHAT WE HAVE GOT OVER TIME ARE SOME SEPARATIONS, SOME SIGNAL INSTALLATIONS, SOME GEOIMPROVEMENTS, SOME CHANGES IN FLOWS.
BUILDING A SORT OF RAIL CONNECTION THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY EXIST.
A WHOLE RANGE OF THOSE LIKE I SAID, WE GOT SOMETHING LIKE 33 OF THEM DONE AND ANOTHER 12 OF THEM UNDER WAY.
AND IN A WAY, THERE WAS BASICALLY SOMETHING IN IT FOR EVERYBODY.
AGAIN, PART OF THE SIGNIFICANCE WAS THAT THE RAILROAD COMPANIES SENT IN A DOZEN PROPOSALS THAT REALLY AMOUNTED TO IMPROVEMENTS IN LANDSIDE ACCESS TO THEIR RAMPS.
THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT WERE THE MOTOR CARRIERS.
THIS WAS -- THIS WAS A CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED APPROACH TO THE SORT OF SMALL-SCALE IMPROVEMENT IN BASICALLY A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE INTERMODAL BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, AND IT HAPPENS THAT THESE THINGS ARE DELIVERED IN A RELATIVELY SHORT TERM.
NOW, THE OTHER THING IS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS VAIN TO CLAIM THIS, BUT WHEN WE STARTED TO ASK ALL THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, WE RAISED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE IS ALL THIS VOLUME GOING TO GO?
WELL, I DON'T THINK IT IS EXACTLY CAUSE AND EFFECT BUT I THINK MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE HAD TWO ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE RAILROAD YARDS OPEN UP.
ONE IN JOLIET, 45 MILES OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AND THE NEXT ONE, WHICH WILL FORMALLY OPEN NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BREAK THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES NEXT WEEK AT THE UNION PACIFIC'S ROCHEL YARD, WHICH IS 65 MILES DUE WEST.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE THREE-QUARTERS TO A MILLION TEU CAPACITY EACH.
SO I MEAN, IT IS -- IT IS HARD TO SORT OF POINT DIRECTLY TO CAUSE AND EFFECT.
AND IT IS MORE A CASE OF THE RESULT OF A FASTIDIOUS PROCESS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
SURE.
TED, DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT?
YEAH, I WILL JUST SAY THAT 10 YEARS AGO, IF YOU WALKED AROUND OUR AGENCY HERE, YOU WOULDN'T FIND A LOT OF CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO FREIGHT.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO PHYSICAL THINGS THAT MOVE.
PEOPLE AND FREIGHT.
THE FREIGHT MANDATE HAS -- IT HAS A SENSE OF REALISM ABOUT IT.
WE WERE KIND OF IGNORING THAT PREVIOUSLY.
THE -- SO THE KEY DIFFERENCE NOW 10 YEARS LATER IS A REALLY ACTIVE COMMITTEE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTATION THAT IS BEING RELEASED FROM THIS AGENCY, WHETHER IT IS OUR LONG-RANGE PLAN OR OTHER PUBLICATIONS, FREIGHT IS INGRAINED IN THAT.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
IF YOU -- ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OTHER REALISTIC THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING, LIKE FUNDING PROJECTS, AND ALSO UNDERTAKING TECHNICAL STUDIES, THERE IS A MORE FAIR INCLUSION OF FREIGHT THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY EXIST.
THANK YOU, TED.
IN A MOMENT I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO THE OPERATOR, WHO WILL GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PUNCH IN SOME NUMBERS AND ASK QUESTIONS.
I WOULD ASK WHEN YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE STATING YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
AND ALSO PLEASE LET US KNOW IF IT IS DIRECTED TOWARDS TED OR GERALD OR BOTH.
SO, CARREY, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER FOR NOW.
THANK YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A QUESTION, PLEASE PRESS THE 1 FOLLOWED BY THE 4 ON YOUR TELEPHONE.
YOU WILL HEAR A THREE-TONE PROMPT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR REQUEST.
AT THAT TIME, YOUR LINE WILL BE ACCESSED FROM THE CONFERENCE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION.
IF YOUR QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED, AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW YOUR REGISTRATION, PLEASE PRESS THE 1 FOLLOWED BY THE 3.
IF YOU ARE USING A SPEAKER PHONE, PLEASE LIFT YOUR HANDSET BEFORE YOUR RESPONSE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YES.
SHARON, YOUR LINE IS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
THE NEXT QUESTION?
HENRY McKAY, GO AHEAD.
WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FROM THE PARTICIPANTS HERE.
THE FIRST ONE IS HAVE -- THEY ARE BOTH FOR TED AND/OR GERALD.
HAVE EITHER AREAS EVER INCLUDED ELECTED OFFICIALS IN YOUR FAC AND IF NOT WHY NOT?
AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS FOR BOTH PARTIES TOO.
HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO DEVELOP AN INTERMODAL INTERORIGINAL OPERATES AND GOODS MODEL AND IF SO, ANY SUCCESS?
LET ME TAKE THE -- IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST QUESTION, FOR -- REGARDING INCLUSION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED.
TYPICALLY IN OUR FAC.
WE HAVE A BOARD HERE THAT -- WHERE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN.
THE FAC IS ONE OF SIX TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES THAT MEETS AND DELIBERATES HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE ONES THAT CONSIDER AIR QUALITY ISSUES, ITS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THE WAY -- THE WAIL OUR STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION IS SET UP, IS THAT THE COMMITTEE MEETS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THEN TRANSMITTED TO THE BOARD.
OUR BOARD TENDS TO BE VERY ASTUTE AND HAVED AND ENGAGED IN THE FREIGHT AREA.
BUT WE HAVE IT SET UP NOW SO THAT THE FAC REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD.
AM I ON?
GIVE YOU A QEK ANSWER.
ONE IS NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ON THE -- ON THE TASK FORCE ITSELF.
WHAT WE DO HAVE IS WE HAVE A -- AN APPARATUS AT CATS WHERE THE AREA, THE SERVICE AREA IS DIVIDED UP INTO ABOUT 13 COUNCILS OF MUNICIPALITIES.
WE HAVE A LIAISON PERSON TO EACH OF THOSE COUNCILS.
AND ONE OF THEM ROTATES PERMANENTLY ON TO THE -- ON TO THE TASK FORCE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE -- HOW THE CONNECTION IS MADE.
ONE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION IS THAT WE DO HAVE VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM OUR CITIES AND COUNTIES.
THE TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONALS FROM THE PLANNING OFFICES.
SO THAT'S THE -- THAT'S OUR CONNECTION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT END UP ADVISING AND GETTING BACK TO THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
DITTO WITH US.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE SECOND QUESTION, SIR?
THE SECOND QUESTION IS FOR TED AND/OR GERALD.
HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO DEVELOP AN INTERMODAL OR INTERREGIONAL FREIGHT AND GOODS MODEL AND HAVE YOU HAD ANY SUCCESS IF YOU DID?
WE HAVE A SEPARATE GROUP HERE AT DVRPC IN THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION THAT HANDLES ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION DATA COLLECTION.
WE DO TWO OR 3,000 TRAFFIC COUNTS A YEAR.
AND THEY ALSO DO THE FORECASTING.
SO IT IS A TRADITIONAL FOUR-STEP PROCESS.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT HANDLE THE DATA SIDE OF OUR EFFORT HERE.
MY CONCENTRATION IS ON THE COMMITTEE AND THAT KIND OF WORK.
BUT WE HAVE -- WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF SURVEYING TO CALIBRATE THE MODEL.
THERE IS NO SEPARATE GOODS MOVEMENT MODEL PER SE.
IT IS HANDLED THROUGH THEIR WORK.
AND OUR ANSWER IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR.
NO, WE HAVE NOT TRIED A FREIGHT MODEL.
FREIGHT MOTOR ACTIVITY IS BUILT INTO THE REGIONAL MODEL.
THE RAIL INDUSTRY, HERE IS A HISTORICAL EVENT.
THE RAIL INDUSTRY BUILT A MODEL OF RAIL OPERATIONS IN THE GATEWAY, AND THIS IS -- THIS CAN BE A SIMULATION MODEL FOR 12, 24, 48 HOURS IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM.
HOW DO YOU PROCESS THE TRAINS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE REGION?
AND IT CAN ALSO BE SIMULATED LONGER TERM IF YOU ADD TO OR SUBTRACT FROM OR SOMEHOW REASSIGN THE CAPACITIES BETWEEN THE RAIL LINES.
SO THAT IS PROBABLY THE FIRST -- THE FIRST ONE ON THE PLANET IN TRUTH.
AND IT IS QUITE A REMARKABLE PRODUCT.
THE WATER SIDE OF IT, WE ALMOST DON'T DO THAT.
WE JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH, BECAUSE WE SENSE THAT THE PLANNING AND MODELLING FOR THAT IS NOT -- NOT OUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THE AIR FREIGHT IS ALL IN ONE -- IN ONE SPOT, AND PROBABLY DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO MODELLING ANYWAY.
COULD WE ASK ANOTHER QUESTION?
I'M STAN RANDOFF WITH HENRY McKAY?
YES.
IN YOUR PRESENTATION FOR THE CATS, ON YOUR THREE Rs, YOU SAID PUBLIC RELATIONS, IN OTHER WORDS PROMOTE FREIGHT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE.
THAT IS WHAT PROMPTED THE QUESTION THAT WAS FIRST ASKED ABOUT WHETHER YOU HAD ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE GROUP.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SKAGGS, GOODS MOVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FOR SEVEN YEARS, I BELIEVE.
WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND IT HAS BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THEY COME IN WITHOUT THE RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT.
OR UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE.
WE MADE A PRESENTATION WITH THE RAILROADS, THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY, PORTS, AIR CARGO, ALL THERE AS PARTNERS IN THE PROBLEMS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLUTIONS OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOS ANGELES AREA.
THE -- THE ISSUE OF WHAT PEOPLE KNOW AND, GERALD, YOU MADE THAT COMMENT, WAS THE TRUCKS THERE AT THE KEDZIE AVENUE INTERSECTION, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN IT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK YOU SAID THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A WATERSHED WHERE PEOPLE BEGAN TO REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT AND WHAT THE BENEFIT WAS TO THEM.
I -- IT JUST SEEMS TO ME IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE SKAG DOES.
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE IN CALIFORNIA THAT DOES THAT.
WE HAVE GOT SOME OTHER VERY ACTIVE FREIGHT ADVISORY COUNCILS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
WITH GOOD PARTICIPATION.
ONE THING, THOUGH, THAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SECTOR INVOLVED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME AND THE LOSS OF CONTINUITY IS CRITICAL.
TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR, OR TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I'M SORRY, LONG-TERM IS NEXT WEEK.
OR NEXT MONTH.
TO PLANNERS AND TO STATE D.O.T.s, LONG-TERM IS 20 YEARS.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT IS THAT THEY GET TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT PLANS TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.
WHEN THEY WANT TO PAVE THEIR PARKING LOT, THEY CALL A CONTRACTOR AND HAVE IT DONE NEXT WEEK.
HAS THAT BEEN A PROBLEM WITH YOU PEOPLE IN THE TWO MPOs THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE, GERALD AND TED'S, IN KEEPING THE CONTINUITY OF YOUR MEMBERS?
IT HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US HERE IN PHILADELPHIA.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERIM PRODUCTS THAT WE CAN -- AND SERVICES WE FEEL WE CAN OFFER THEM.
WE THINK THAT KEEPS THEM ENGAGED AND KEEPS THEM FROM COMING BACK.
ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IS WHAT WE CALL FREIGHT FORWARD.
IT IS AN UMBRELLA MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR A LOT OF THE AGENCIES AND TRANSPORTATION OWNERS HERE IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY.
AND IT IS ON OUR WEB.
WE -- IT IS SET UP SO THAT THE FRAID COMMUNITY OR TRUCK DRIVERS OR PEOPLE IN THE GOODS MOVEMENT AREA CAN NOTE PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE HAVING.
AND THEN WE WILL TRY TO FOLLOW UP ON THEIR BEHALF, AND DO SOMETHING WITH THOSE PROJECTS, GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE KIND OF IN THE MAINTENANCE AREA THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE PROGRAMMING A PROJECT THROUGH OUR TYPICAL PROCESS.
AND I DO -- I DUSH I'M INTRIGUED BY WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
THE FREIGHT COMMITTEES ARE FUN, OR THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TRY -- IT IS HARD ENOUGH KIND OF KEEPING THE PRIVATE SECTOR THERE, WORRY ABOUT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE.
THAT'S A ROLE FOR THE FAC FACILITATOR TO KEEP THEM PLUGGED INTO THE MPO, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, REPORT BACK TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF THE FREIGHT COMMITTEE.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT LINK THAT NEEDS BEING MADE.
ALSO, WE FIND THAT WE GET INVOLVED WITH FREIGHT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ON A LOT OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SO THAT'S AN AREA WHERE MAYBE NOT AT THE QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE ARE DOING OUT ON THE STREET WITH SPECIFIC PROJECTS WHERE WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FREIGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER, AGAIN IT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE LISTSERV.
WE WANT TO ALLOW AS PEOPLE -- MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
JOCELYN JONES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
MY -- MINE IS A COMMENT NOT A QUESTION.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT BEING FROM THE BALTIMORE AREA, I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO GO AND SEE TED'S MEETINGS SEVERAL TIMES, AND I WOULD SUGGEST FOR ANYBODY ELSE LISTENING IF THEY ARE NEAR EITHER GERALD OR TED OR PEOPLE IN THE LAST PRESENTATION, TO TAKE A TRIP TO VISIT THEM DURING THEIR TASK FORCE MEETINGS.
I THINK THAT'S A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.
BUT ALSO SEPARATE FROM THAT, I'M ALSO ON BOTH TED AND PETE'S MAILING LIST SO I HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THEIR AGENDA ITEMS ARE AND TO SEE WHAT THE COMMENTS WERE.
AND SO YOU MAY REQUEST TO GET ON THEIR MAILING LISTS AS WELL.
AND THEN I'M ALSO HAPPY TO ADMIT THAT I HAVE GLEANED IDEAS FROM ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY TED, IN OUR TASK FORCE MEETINGS WE USE THE TWO-MINUTE REPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE HAVE DONE SOME INTERSECTION STUDIES SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN PHILLY, AND ALSO TED TALKED ABOUT THE DATA COMMITTEE THAT GLEANED SOME ACTIVITY AND TRENDS IN A MONTHLY REPORT.
WE DO SOMETHING SIMILAR ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
THANK YOU, JOCELYN.
GERALD AND TED, IF YOU COULD QUICKLY GIVE MAYBE A WEB ADDRESS OR HOW YOU WOULD GET ON TO YOUR MAILING LIST.
CATS MPO DOT-COM.
TED, IS THERE A WAY TO GET ON TO YOURS?
IS THERE A BETTER ANSWER THAN THAT?
THERE'S A YOUNG MAN HERE WITH ME WHO WORKS WITH ME ON A LOT OF THIS STUFF.
AND HE IS BY COMPARISON WITH ME HE IS WHAT I WOULD CALL A WHIZ KID.
IF HE HAS THE RIGHT ANSWER, LET ME GIVE IT TO YOU.
WE WILL SOON HAVE THE WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, AND VERY SOON AFTER THAT, THERE WILL BE A SECTION ON THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN PUNCH IN YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND GET -- IT WILL GO AND ADD YOU TO THE MAILING LIST.
THE EASIEST WAY RIGHT NOW IS TO E-MAIL ME AIRIS AT CATS MPO DOT-COM.
FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT UNTIL THE WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING FULLY.
WE WILL PLACE AN AD -- I WILL PUT THE MESSAGE ON THE LISTSERVER WHEN IT GOES LIVE.
THANK YOU.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
PAT, IS THERE A WAY TO GET ON YOUR MAILING LIST, TED?
YOU CAN CALL ME AT 215-238-2844.
OR PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT T DAHLBURG AT DVRPC DOT ORG AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ADD YOU.
THANK YOU.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE LINE OF CAROLYN MARSHALL.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR TED.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT WAS SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT DREW INTEREST INTO THE FAC AND WHAT KEPT THE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS?
AND THEN A QUESTION IS HOW IF YOU -- DID YOU GET THE RAILROADS INVOLVED?
THIS IS FOR BOTH TED AND GERALD.
WELL, MAYBE THERE'S SORT OF ONE ANSWER TO BOTH YOUR QUESTIONS.
THAT IS THAT AGAIN HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG TRADITION OF RAILROADING.
ICED TEA WAS PASSED IN 1991, AND BOTH OUR STATE D.O.T.s AND THE DVRPC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE ACTIVE IN THE FREIGHT AREA.
CON RAIL AT THAT TIME WAS WORKING WITH THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA IN CREATING A DOUBLE-STACK CLEARANCE ROUTE ACROSS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA THAT ALSO LINKS TO NEW JERSEY.
SO I THINK THAT THE STATES IN A SENSE, THEY ALSO HAD ANNUAL FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT WERE DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR MAINTENANCE, AND EVEN SOME NEW CONSTRUCTION.
OUR RAILROAD CUSTOMERS, I THINK LARGELY THROUGH THE STATE D.O.T.s, WERE ACCUSTOMED TO WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH GOVERNMENT.
SO THE STAGE WAS KIND OF SET FOR US, AND THIS WAS JUST A NATURAL PROGRESSION DOWN TO THE LOCAL MPO LEVEL.
SEW I THINK THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT THEM HERE, AND HAS HELPED KEEP THEM HERE.
CAROL, DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT -- GERALD, DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT?
YES, I DO.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE RAIL INDUSTRY WAS NEVER A PROBLEM.
I MEAN, IF YOU -- EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE RAIL INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE DEFINING BUSINESSES IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENTS OF POLITICAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY.
AND THE RAIL INDUSTRY HAS ALWAYS HAD AN AGENDA OF THE SORTS.
AND IT HAS LATELY CRYSTALLIZED INTO THIS CREATE PROJECT THAT I DESCRIBED VERY BRIEFLY.
AGAIN, RATHER THAN HAVE ME TRY AND EXPLAIN IT ALL, GO TO THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF TRAINS MAGAZINE.
THERE'S A MARVELOUS ARTICLE FOUR PAGES LONG.
SO WE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM ENGAGING THEM.
OR KEEPING THEM ENGAGED, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WELL AWARE THAT ALONG WITH THE MAJOR PRESENCE IN THE MARKETPLACE, COME ALL THE OPERATIONAL IMPEDIMENTS AND THE POLITICAL RESTRAINTS.
SO THEY HAVE -- IN FACT, THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR MAJOR SUPPORTERS.
DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN MORE WITH KEEPING THE MOTOR CARRIERS ENGAGED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM AND YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW TO REACH ALL THE SECTORS OF THE MOTOR CARRIER INDUSTRY.
AND I THOUGHT OF SOMETHING ELSE, I THINK CHICAGO IS SIMILAR TO THE PHILADELPHIA AREA NOW IS NOW PERHAPS THE RAILROADS ARE LOOKING TO THE MPOs FOR -- AND THE STATE D.O.T.s FOR HELPING OUT WITH BIGGER BUCKS ON PROJECTS.
THE I-95 CORRIDOR COALITION JUST COMPLETED A STUDY LOOKING AT RAIL CHOKE POINTS AND CAPACITY ISSUES IN THE NORTHEAST.
FOR BOTH PASSENGER RAIL AND FOR FREIGHT RAIL.
AND THEY CAME UP WITH A PROGRAM, I THINK A 20-YEAR PROGRAM OF $6.2 BILLION.
THE RAILROADS WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED SOME HELP FOOTING THAT BILL.
THERE ARE $700 MILLION IN PROJECTS ALONE JUST IN OUR REGION, SO STARTING OUT WITH MAYBE SOME SMALLER ISSUES, NOW WE ARE LOOKING TO RAILROADS THAT -- TO HELP US SHOULDER THE GROWTH IN TRAVEL.
WE ARE LOOKING TO PROVIDE CLEARANCES, VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL CLEARANCES ON RAILROADS, LOOKING TO ADD SECOND TRACKS BACK TO PLACES WHERE THEY WERE REMOVED.
WE ARE LOOKING TO ADDRESSING HIGHWAY RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING ISSUES.
THERE IS A LOT MORE MONEY INVOLVED, AND I THINK THEY WOULD -- THE RAILROADS WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO WORK COOPERATIVELY AS THEY WITH US ON SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
OKAY, LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT QUI.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE LINE OF JOHN VA LES ERIO.
MY QUESTION IS FOR BOTH GERALD AND TED.
GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, FREIGHT INTERESTS AMONG THE STATE D.O.T.s AND THE MPOs WITHIN THAT STATE HOW WOULD THE FAC BEST REFLECT BOTH INTERESTS AND HOW DO YOU STRUCTURE IT SO YOU ARE NOT DUPLICATING THE EFFORTS OF THE INDUSTRY PEOPLE?
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON HOW THE -- WHAT THE BEST STRUCTURE OF BRINGING TOGETHER THE STATE D.O.T. AND THE MPOs IN AN FAC?
IN PHILADELPHIA, THE PennDOTT AND NEW JERSEY D.O.T.
HAVE THEIR OWN PROGRAMS OF CREATING PLANS AND THEY HAVE FUNDING PROGRAMS.
THEY ALSO HAVE EXCELLENT STAFF MEMBERS THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, AND I THINK THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT WE USE THEM AND THEY USE US.
WHEREVER THAT MAKES SENSE.
NEW JERSEY, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A STATEWIDE FREIGHT PLAN.
AND THEY -- RATHER THAN CREATE SEPARATE FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES, THEY HAVE THREE MPOs IN THEIR STATE.
THEY ARE USING THE EXISTING FREIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THE MPOs.
SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY EVEN HELPING GET US US SOME MORE BUSINESS TO DELIBERATE UPON.
IN OUR CASE, THE SOUTH JERSEY AREA IS NOT PART OF OUR REGION, IT IS SMALLER.
THEY DON'T HAVE A STANDING COMMITTEE.
SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY USING US AS A CONDUIT FOR CONSIDERING SOME OF THE LOCAL FREIGHT ISSUES IN THAT AREA.
SO I THINK -- I THINK THE PROCESS WORKS REAL WELL, AND WE HELP EACH OTHER.
THIS IS GERALD.
I'M GOING TO -- JOHN, I'M GOING TO TRY AND GIVE YOU THE MOST DISCREET ANSWER I CAN.
TED SAID WE USE THEM AND THEY USE US.
IN OUR CASE, IT IS PROBABLY MORE THEY USE US AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND OUT THE BEST WAY TO USE THEM.
WE HAVE HAD A VERY STRANGE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE D.O.T.
IT HAS BEEN GREAT WHEN WE HAVE HAD COMMON GROUND AND PROJECTS TO WORK ON, SUCH AS THE INTERMODAL CONNECTORS, BUT IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.
AND -- BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY -- THEY HAVE FOUND A USE FOR A LOT OF OUR MATERIAL.
SO IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE CLANDESTINE RELATIONSHIPS, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
WE WILL TAKE TWO MORE QUESTIONS AND DUE TO TIME WE WILL HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO POST THE QUESTIONS FOR THE LISTSERVS, AND GERALD AND TED WILL GET BACK TO YOU.
LET'S GO AHEAD WITH TWO MORE QUIES -- QUESTIONS.
I'M SHOWING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
OKAY.
LET'S SEE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE UP ON LINE RIGHT NOW SO I WILL ASK THAT ONE.
HOW MUCH STAFF TIME IS DEVOTED TO FAC DEVELOPMENT AND NURTURING?
A LOT.
I DEVOTE THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY TIME TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND MIGHT EVEN INVOLVE A FEW EXTRA HOURS TOO.
IT IS -- IT CAN BE -- IT IS KIND OF INTENSIVE.
I GUESS I RECOGNIZE THAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE THAT LUXURY.
SO WE DO TRY TO ASSIST THE SURROUNDING MPOs TO THE DEGREE THAT WE CAN, AND HELP THEM.
THERE IS, BY THE WAY, THERE IS AN NCHRP PROJECT THAT IS JUST GETTING UNDER WAY FOR BEST PRACTICES FOR SMALL-TO-MEDIUM-SIZED MPOs.
AND IT IS NCHRP 847.
SO SOME FOLKS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT TO SEE SOME BEST PRACTICES, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT FREIGHT -- DOING THE FAC ROLE, IT IS NOT A JOB.
IT IS A CAREER, AND THE TIME, IT IS A LOT OF TIME, BUT IT IS WELL WORTH IT.
AND MY ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT WE HAVE PROBABLY THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO FTEs WORKING ON FREIGHT ISSUES.
I THINK THE LIONS' SHARE OF IT GOES INTO ORIGINAL OPERATIONS AND ANALYSIS AND OPERATIONAL RESEARCH.
AND POSSIBLY NOT MUCH MORE THAN 10 OR 15% OF IT REALLY GOES INTO IMMEDIATE SUPPORT OF THE TASK FORCE.
BUT WHAT -- WHAT YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND IS IN FACT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PLAYER.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ALLOCATION OF UWP FUNDS FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WE MIGHT GET SOMEWHERE AROUND ABOUT 300, $350,000 TO CATS.
BUT THERE WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM A HALF TO A MILLION DOLLARS AWARDED TO THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MOST OF WHICH GOES INTO CONSULTANT PROJECTS.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH UWP RESOURCES AS THE C D.O.T. DOES.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AT THIS POINT I THINK WE WILL WRAP UP NOW.
WE HAVE GONE A LITTLE BIT OVER THE HOUR AND A HALF MARK.
DO YOU WANT TO CLOSE WITH A FEW COMMENTS?
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE SECOND SEMINAR ON THE TALKING FRAID SERIES.
AS I MENTIONED THE RECORDED VERSION OF THIS EVENT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO ON THE TALKING FREIGHT WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE SITE AND REGISTER FOR FUTURE SEMINARS.
SECONDLY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TED AND GERALD FOR PRESENTING DURING THE SEMINAR.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE APPRECIATED WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS THROUGH THE LISTSERV OR THROUGH E-MAILS IF POSSIBLE.
ONE FINAL NOTE, MANY OF YOU HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE SEND THE PRESENTATIONS OUT AHEAD OF TIME, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PRESENTATION FILES IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
WE ARE WORKING ON MAKING THE PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND PERHAPS CREATING A CD CONTAINING ALL SEMINARS.
WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE RECEIVED ON THESE SEMINARS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORK TO MAKE THE TALKING FREIGHT SEMINARS AS BENEFICIAL TO YOU AS POSSIBLE.
I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY.
THANK YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT DOES CONCLUDE YOUR CONFERENCE FOR TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ASK YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT YOUR LINES.
