Page 36 - ATR 5 2012 web 2

years and one key to its success is the
involvement of stakeholders.
“It’s made up of representatives
“states are goiNg to haVe to meet some from cities, counties, ports, steamship
miNimum staNdards oN PaVemeNt quality, lines and trucking firms, and chaired by
bridge quality, coNgestioN, moViNg freight.” someone with no concurrent connec-
—darriN roth, tion to any of them,” he said. “We set
up the criteria first for projects to meet,
director of highway oPeratioNs, in order to get funds and be considered
americaN trucKiNg associatioNs freight mobility projects. Jurisdictions
make application once a year. Two
groups review those independently, rate
transportation bill, the process to cre- aviation and internal affairs. In addi- them and make recommendations to
ate the next one is underway. This tion, there will be advisory members the board. The board will then either
wasn’t what Transportation Secretary from various transportation industries adjust or accept the recommendations,
Ray LaHood had asked for. In an August and labor. and the package is sent to the legisla-
video podcast, he said he’d hoped for a Roth says Porcari, as chairman, ture for funding.”
five-year funding cycle – and there are should work well with the various Steve Holtgeerts, president of
short-term consequences that will have transportation industry stakeholders. Washington-based Hogland Transfer
to be dealt with. “Porcari knows a lot about trans- Co., has been a member of the state’s
“We talk and talk about the fiscal portation, has been involved with Freight Mobility Strategic Investment
cliff about to hit the economy,” said transportation a long time,” he said. “If Board, or FMSIB, for five years. He says
Roth. “Well, by 2014, by the end of you look at where he’s from, Maryland, the results have been good for both the
this bill, the Highway Trust Fund will their DOT is probably the most inte- trucking industry and freight movement
hit a fiscal cliff and we’re looking at grated DOT of any state. He comes with in general.
something like $14 billion a year we’re that perspective and that’s probably one “There have been some real advan-
going to have to find just to keep the reason why the council has taken the tages in the greater Seattle area, with a
money flowing at current levels, which form that it has. I think he’s someone lot of rail overpasses and underpasses
are insufficient already. That’s the big who will reach out to the stakeholders particularly, and around the ports
thing, how to solve that fiscal problem.” and give us a fair voice.” and more so some of the distribution
The national freight policy called The federal Freight Policy Council centers,” said Holtgeerts. “In the Kent
for in MAP-21 will be the product of has already held an organizational Valley, there are millions of square feet
a 12-member federal Freight Policy meeting, Roth said, and is planning of distribution centers in that area, but
Council chaired by Deputy Secretary of outreach sessions for the freight provi- right now there are only two rail cross-
Transportation John Porcari. sions and safety provisions in MAP-21. ings left that haven’t been completed.
According to its charter, the That’s a huge plus for the trucking side
council’s voting members will all THUmbS Up IN THE paCIfIC of the industry, not to wait 20 minutes
be drawn from the Department of NorTHwEST or more for a train to go by. It seemed
Transportation. They are the dep- As for what the trucking industry like the trains were always running in
uty administrators of the Federal might expect working with the Freight the 3 to 5 p.m. range, when you’ve got
Aviation Administration, Federal Policy Council to be like, there’s some to make your pickups.”
Highway Administration, Federal precedent to be found. In August on Holtgeerts said there were other
Motor Carriers Safety Administration, his official blog, Secretary LaHood cited projects beyond grade separation, such
Federal Railroad Administration, Washington state’s Freight Mobility as access, that focused more on getting
Maritime Administration, Research and Strategic Investment Board as an exam- freight away from the general public in
Innovative Technology Administration, ple of just such a body that had been “a some places. There have been challeng-
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety huge success.” es, of course; he notes that funding at
Administration and Saint Lawrence Larry Pursley, executive vice all levels – federal, state and local – has
Seaway Development Corp., plus the president of the Washington Trucking dropped, which impacts the number of
under secretary of transportation for Associations (WTA), agreed with that projects that can be completed.
policy, assistant secretary for trans- assessment. “When FBSIM started there was a
portation policy, assistant secretary “It’s worked very well for us over dedicated funding source. It came out
for budget and programs, the general the years,” said Pursley. of the motor vehicle excise tax,” he said.
counsel and the assistant secretary for The board has been in place for 11 “Unfortunately, there was an initiative

36 arkansas truCking rePort | issue 5 2012