Engaging Freight and Supply Chain Representatives in Public Sector Projects

1. Engaging Freight and Supply Chain Representatives in Public Sector Projects

2. Successful Public Involvement from a Public Sector Perspective • Have informed stakeholders • Gained private sector input and/or data • Provided opportunity to contribute to decision making • Set stage for potential private sector funding • Met project outreach requirements

3. MAP-21: State Freight Advisory Committees • US DOT encourages each state to establish a freight advisory committee • Committee must consist of representative public and private sector stakeholders, including the state DOT, local governments, freight carriers, shippers, ports, freight industry workforce and freight associations • State freight advisory committees must: • Advise state on freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs • Serve as a forum for state transportation decisions impacting freight mobility • Communicate and coordinate regional priorities with other organizations • Promote information sharing between the public and private sectors on freight issues • Participate in the development of the state freight plan

4. Successful Private Sector Involvement from a Private Sector Perspective • We obtained value that could be meaningful to the bottom line. • They didn’t waste my time. • The meeting/interaction was short and targeted. • They didn’t ask for confidential business information. • Nobody put us on the spot. • They understood our business.

5. Who are the Private Freight Stakeholders • Shippers and receivers • Carriers – all modes • Service providers • Terminal facility operators • Warehouse and industrial developers and operators Considerations for Involvement: • Who could be directly affected by this project or study? • What do we really need to know from the private sector? • The private sector time line is much shorter than public sector time lines – why should they care about a project 20 years in the future?

6. Supply Chain Drivers and Considerations • Us, the empowered consumers • The bottom line • Pressure – one strike and you’re out • The globalization and localization of the supply chain • Shocks and “never again” situations • Product proliferation • Sustainability and profitability • How green is my bottom line? • Governmental policies

7. Public and Private: Common Ground Planning Considerations for Freight: • Zoning criteria to provide buffer zones • Capacity needs for staging/parking • Facility access • Traffic mix (passenger vs. truck) • Accident hot spots

8. Public and Private: Common Ground Environmental Considerations for Freight: • National Environmental Policy Act • Private partners might be aware of impacts (i.e., noise complaints, idling trucks) • Communities and agencies may not be aware that the private sector is ahead of the public sector in implementing environmental practices.

9. Public and Private: Common Ground Design and Construction for Freight: • Urban design issues • At-grade crossing clearance • Complete streets (livability) • Designs and upgrades that consider 53 foot trailers, 286K rail freight freight, sufficient loading docks, truck parking, etc. • Complimentary land uses

10. Public and Private: Common Ground Operations and Maintenance Considerations for Freight: • Information needs • Dredging • At-grade railroad crossings • Signal timing in truck corridors • Shared rail corridors • Truck parking • Local noise ordinances

11. Public and Private: Common Ground Safety and Oversight Considerations for Freight: • Regulatory policies • Impacts of regulations on operations • Protecting freight infrastructure • Safety evaluation and enforcement • Cost allocation • Permit fee evaluation

12. “Getting to Know the Business” Engagements Build awareness, formally and informally: • Networking (conferences, luncheons) • Educational seminars • Regional business coalitions • Roundtables • Go to Private Sector Association Meetings • Visit Facilities • Get out in the Field

13. Project Specific Engagement Seek input through a defined processes for a specific period • Interviews / surveys • Focus groups • Freight forums • Social media

14. Collaboration Engagement On-going public/private groups that meet on a regular basis on specific topics and subjects • MTS-RUs and Facility Groups • Freight advisory groups • Freight quality partnerships

15. Outreach with Outcome • Understand your objectives • Understand private sector priorities and motivations • Consider when to involve the private sector • Inform or involve stakeholders? • Allow opportunity for feedback • Build relationships • Think beyond the immediate project

16. Preparing for Involvement • Which private/public sector agencies are you currently working with? • Who have you engaged in the past? • Who should you be working with? • What input and information must you obtain? • What happens after the study is over? • What resources do you need? • What is the current freight context (e.g., is it the peak holiday shipment season, are toll increases under consideration, is a strike pending?)

17. Thank you! Anne Strauss-Wieder, asw@as-w.com 908-654-5144 Website: www.as-w.com