Best Practices in Freight Planning, Programming, andStakeholder Engagement:Case Studies from Eight Freight Peers

摘要

This paper reports on key findings related to best practices and lessons learned in the areas offreight planning, freight programming, and stakeholder engagement on freight issues. Forexample, in the area of stakeholder engagement, research indicated that peers found it useful todevelop an outreach group to solicit private sector input on freight plans, studies, and projects.Furthermore, many peers found it useful to disseminate freight-specific materials, such asbrochures, to educate stakeholders about freight and engage them in a sustained freightconversation.Findings were compiled from a series of in-person and telephone conversations held witheight freight peers at state transportation departments and metropolitan planning organizations,as well as a review of peers’ online literature and materials. The research was initiated as part ofa project conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Twin Cities’Metropolitan Council in Saint Paul, Minnesota.This research has broad applicability beyond the Twin Cities’ region and will help informfreight work being conducted by transportation agencies around the country. Specifically, thefindings will support agencies to incorporate freight considerations as part of daily transportationplanning, programming, and decision-making, identify key resources for implementing freight18focused projects, and heighten visibility for transportation projects that benefit freightmovements. Finally, the findings will support agencies in building a strong community ofchampions to bolster and advance freight conversations in a state or metropolitan region.