Connecting Freight and Land Use Planning through a Regional Freight Priority Network
Corresponding Author: Christine Sherman, RSG
Presented By: Christine Sherman, RSG
Abstract
The Capital Region (Albany) of New York State encompasses a great variety of manufacturers, warehouse and distribution centers, service providers, and multimodal transportation facilities. The region’s freight network serves as a major conduit for NAFTA traffic between Canada and metropolitan New York City as well as for global trade via the Port of Albany and Albany International Airport. The dynamic relationship between land use and freight-intensive facilities, however, is not typically well-recognized in regional and local planning. As the Capital Region grows, recognizing and planning for this relationship is important to ensuring freight system efficiency and reliability as well as maintaining the region’s economy and quality of life. In 2016, the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) produced the Regional Freight and Goods Movement Plan which, in part, sought to harmonize freight and land use planning through strategies for better integrating freight and land use typologies.
This presentation will discuss the development and results of the Plan, including creation of a freight-supportive land use typology for the Capital Region and the new Freight Priority Network (FPN), which provides a logical hierarchy of route types for efficient and safe truck mobility within, to, and from the region. The presentation will explain how the FPN helps CDTC and its member jurisdictions make regional infrastructure investment decisions with more a comprehensive consideration of critical freight mobility needs as well as land use planning and regulation. A toolbox of strategies for the designated land uses that supports implementation and operation of FPN facilities will also be discussed.
The presentation will employ visualization, maps and photos to help participants more fully understand and appreciate the concepts and issues being discussed. Time for Q&A will be provided.