Coalition Views
Give Freight A Fund!
The Coalition is dedicated to helping develop federal freight policy that will ensure sufficient funding in federal legislation to meet the nation's goods movement needs. Following the passage of SAFETEA-LU, the Coalition began developing a new set of freight policy principles. In February of 2009, the Coalition release Freight 21: A National Strategic Freight Mobility Program and Trust Fund. The policy paper proposes the creation of a Federal Freight Trust Fund (FTF) to facilitate implementation of a new, strategic freight mobility program that incorporates:
- A national strategy which guides long term planning
- A dedicated funding mechanism(s)
- A set of merit-based criteria for funding allocation
- A partnership with the private sector
Click Here to read CAGTC’s Freight 21 Proposal
Click Here to read CAGTC's Freight 21 Proposal Talking Points
The Coalition is dedicated to raising awareness about the nation's freight needs, both on Capitol Hill and with the general public. To help meet that goal, the Coalition has developed various educational materials to help demonstrate the vital role goods movement plays in our nation's economy, as well as our every day lives.
Gateway Map
Click Here to see a map detailing the nation's top international gateways based on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics 2002 Commodity Flow Survey.
CAGTC FOLLOW THAT ... FREIGHT BROCHURE SERIES
In 2005, CAGTC developed a series of educational brochures, developed and distributed during 
the conference period before the passage of SAFETEA-LU, to remind Congress of the importance of freight and goods movement. CAGTC featured 8 products, both imports and exports, that utilize multi-modal freight routes.
Each brochure was accompanied by a giveaway made from the product featured on the cover, like a single tea bag or a miniature Sharpie pen.
To view the full series of brochures, click HERE.
To download an individual brochure, select from the options below:
I. Coffee II. Corn III. Crayon IV. Cotton V. Altoids VI. Rice VII. Sharpie VIII. Tea
AMERICA'S FREIGHT IS AMERICA'S FUTURE SUCCEEDING THROUGH BORDERS AND CORRIDORS
Although Borders and Corridors authorized funding levels have fallen woefully short, many success stories
from programs have emerged. In 2003, CAGTC compiled a report featuring thumbnail descriptions of successful intermodal freight infrastructure projects that received some federal funding or "shelf-ready" projects that need funding. In addition, it includes an estimate of the minimum needs for Borders and Corridors funding and information on relevant studies on bottlenecks impeding the movement of freight.
Succeeding Through Borders and Corridors
To contribute to the national freight dialogue, the Coalition develops policy papers, testimony and white papers on a wide variety of freight-specific and freight-related issues.
Greening the Freight System
In 2010, the Coalition worked with other fright industry stakeholders and the environmental community to develop a consensus document focusing on moving forward with a freight systems that is safe, efficient and greener.
Click Here to read the Freight Transportation Improvement Principles
Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
In 2009, the Coalition commented on Senator Boxer's Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.
Click Here to read the letter
Freight Stakeholders Platform
The Coalition is a member of a informal Washington group called the Freight Stakeholders Coalition, which gathers to discuss issues impacting the freight community. In 2009, the Freight Stakeholders developed and endorsed a policy platform for the next surface transportation authorization.
Click Here to read the Freight Stakeholders 2009 Platform
June 2009 Hearing: Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security: Freight Transportation in America: Options for Improving the Nation’s Network
In June 2009, Butch Brown, Executive Director of the Mississippi DOT, submitted testimony to the Senate Commerce Committee on behalf of the Coalition.
Click Here to read the testimony and the Coalition's responses to several follow up Questions for the Record
2008 AASHTO Hearing on National Freight Transportation Agenda
In 2008, the Coalition's Chairman, Mortimer Downey, testified at AASHTO's Washington Brieifing, during a session hearing on the national freight agenda.
Click Here to read the testimony
Freight and Public Private Partnerships
In 2007, the Coalition issued a white paper on the role of public-private partnerships in the nation's freight policy.
Click Here to read the Coalition's PPP Statement
Freight and Transit
In 2006, after developing the concept of a dedicated freight trust fund, the Coalition issued this statement on the benefits of a freight trust fund to the nation's transit system.
Click Here to read the statement
Understanding the Nation's Freight Network
In 2006, the Coalition sent a letter to Senator Feinstein asking her to request a study of the nation's freight system, to help better demonstrate the enormous needs of the goods movement network.
The Coalition also encouraged US DOT to conduct a study on the benefits the major freight corridors and gateways offer to the entire country.
Click Here to read the letter to Senator Feinstein
Click Here to see the letter to US DOT
Goods Movement White Paper
Following the passage of SAFETEA-LU, the Coalition developed a Goods Movement White Paper. The paper discusses the nation's freight system, as a whole and by mode, the impacts of policies in SAFETEA-LU and makes recommendations on next steps for the nation's freight policy.
Click Here to read the Coalition's Goods Movement White Paper
September 2002 Joint Senate Commerce and EPW Hearing on Freight Transportation and Intermodal Connections
In 2002, Michael Huerta, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of ACS State & Local Solutions, testified at a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation and Environment & Public Works Committees.
Click Here to read the testimony
|
Congress |
|
Administration |
|
112th Congress On January 5th, the House of Representatives adopted H.R. 5 - a set of changes to the House Rules for the 112th Congress. Included H.R. 5 was a provision removing the minimum funding guarantees for program funded by the Highway Trust Fund. 111th Congress FREIGHT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION Freight Act of 2010: On July 22, 2010, Senators Lautenberg, Cantwell and Murray introduced S 3629 – the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation (FREIGHT) Act of 2010. A week later, Congressman Sires, along with Representatives Cohen, Richardson and Smith introduced companion legislation, HR 5976, in the House. - Click here to read the Coalition’s summary of the FREIGHT Act of 2010. In June 2009, Congressmen Adam Smith (D-WA) and Reichert (R-WA) introduced HR 2707 – the National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Act. - In June 2009, Members of Congress wrote a Dear Colleague letter to the leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee calling for a ‘new, streamlined approach’ to addressing the nation’s freight needs through the establishment of a federal freight program in the next surface transportation authorization. As part of the FY 2010 appropriations process, Congress allocated $1.5 billion for a second round of multimodal discretionary grant, dubbed TIGER II by DOT. - CAGTC Support for NII/TIGER II - NII/TIGER II in 2010 Appropriations language
110th Congress FREIGHT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION In September 2008, Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced HR 7117 – the National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Act. 109th Congress Funding and programming for freight and goods movement significantly increased with the 2005 passage of SAFETEA-LU. |
|
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants TIGER II Grant winners - TIGER I - TIGER II Projects of National & Regional Significance (PNRS) DOT Proposals/Strategies 2010 DOT (Obama Administration) Strategic Plan FY 2010 – FY 2015 - CAGTC Comments on DOT Budget Proposals US DOT FY 2011 Budget Proposal from Administration |
