§70202 State Freight Plans

Summary

States that get money under section 167 of title 23 must make a freight plan for both short- and long-term freight needs. The plan must say what big freight trends, needs, and problems exist. It must describe the State’s freight policies, strategies, and how it will measure performance. When relevant, it must list any designated critical freight corridors. The plan must explain how it will meet national freight goals, consider new technologies and better operations, plan fixes for roads that heavy vehicles will damage, list bottlenecks and how State-owned problem spots will be handled, address freight-caused congestion and fixes, and include a freight investment plan with priority projects that shows how section 167 funds would be used and matched. A project can be in the investment list only if its funding can reasonably be expected within the plan’s time frame. The plan must also include the latest commercial motor vehicle parking assessment, recent cargo flow data by mode, an inventory of commercial ports, any multi-State compact findings if applicable, the effects of e-commerce and military freight, and strategies to reduce harms from extreme weather, air pollution, flooding, and habitat loss. The plan should reflect advice from the State freight advisory committee when one exists. The freight plan can stand alone or be part of the State’s long-range transportation plan. It must cover an 8-year forecast and be updated at least once every 4 years (the investment plan can be updated more often). As part of making or updating the plan, the State must, with motor carrier safety staff, assess truck parking and rest facility capability, truck traffic volume, and any parking shortages and their causes. The plan must include actions to improve reliability or quickly restore freight access. The Secretary of Transportation will approve the plan if it meets these requirements.