By: CAGTC Staff
On May 15, freight and supply chain industry leaders from across the country convened for the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. In recent years, unexpected supply chain disruptions have underscored the need to address vulnerabilities and prepare for future demands on the system. Through a series of dynamic discussions, CAGTC’s meeting highlighted the need for sustained levels of federal investment far beyond expiration of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in order to support a resilient supply chain.
In conjunction with the annual meeting, CAGTC released the sixteenth iteration of its “Follow That Freight” series, “Follow That…Card Deck.” Designed to increase recognition of the many modes and nodes required to move an ordinary consumer object from raw material to finished product, the brochure begins with raw materials in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and ends at a card table in the United Kingdom. Follow That...Card Deck can be viewed here.
To kick off the meeting, staff from the relevant Congressional authorizing committees joined CAGTC for an off-the-record conversation moderated by Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer for the Port of Long Beach. Brett Jortland, Senior Counsel on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Jackie Schmitz, Staff Director of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit; and Paul Wasik, Deputy Policy Director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports participated on the panel. The panelists shared insights into what each authorizing committee is planning for the next iteration of the BIL.
Threats on the Horizon: How Can We Prepare for Tomorrow’s Supply Chain Crisis
Moderated by Rob Cannizzaro, Chief Operating Officer for the Intermodal Association of North America, this panel examined the various threats facing the supply chain industry and how these challenges underscore the need for federal funding.
The panelists began by exploring how the global supply chain landscape has evolved over the past decade and identifying primary vulnerabilities. The Honorable Chris Carney, Senior Policy Advisor for Nossaman LLP, stated that since there are more trucks, trains, planes, and ships moving goods than ever before, there is a significantly higher probability for incidents to occur. He specifically pointed to the dangers of cyber-attacks, which would have damaging ripple effects across the supply chain. Tom Saunders, Head of Government Affairs for Ports America, discussed the need for marine terminals to balance investments in capacity-building projects and the safety of workers in order to accommodate increased cargo volumes. Erin Aleman, Executive Director for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, explained that there has been a boom of warehousing and industrial space closer to major cities as consumers expect their goods to be delivered at unprecedented speeds, ultimately contributing to growing calls for the industry to implement decarbonization initiatives.
To meet growing consumer demands and address supply chain vulnerabilities, panelists stressed the need for federal investment in major, complex projects that support resilient supply chains. Panelists mentioned investing in projects that separate freight and passenger rail, projects with multimodal connections, projects that plan for severe weather events, and projects that reduce carbon footprints.
Caution Ahead: Impacts of “Boom and Bust” Funding Cycles
Andrew Neely, Senior Vice President of Federal Government Affairs for WSP USA, led a conversation examining how the supply chain industry is impacted when public agencies and private businesses shift their decision making to maximize BIL funding and the dangers of an unstable funding future.
During the panel, industry leaders discussed the significant benefits of reliable, long-term federal funding. Bill Hanon, Senior Vice President of Market Development for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, recognized the benefits of advanced appropriations, which allow project sponsors to develop better projects and set more accurate project schedules. Freddie Fuller, Vice President & Executive Director of Sales for Jacobs, added that project sponsors can explore more creative financing options for major projects when the industry can count on sustained funding. Preston Elliott, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, spoke about the specific benefits of long-term funding for rural projects. With reliable funding, project sponsors have additional planning time to align rural freight projects with the goals of a grant program.
In closing, Michael Cano, Executive Officer of Countywide Planning & Development for LA Metro, stated that the boom-and-bust cycle of funding limits agencies and businesses from reaching their full potential. However, with more reliable funding sources and programs, the industry can deliver projects that clearly align with the administration’s goals at the local level.
Keynote Speaker: All About the New USDOT Freight Office
USDOT Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy Allison Dane Camden joined CAGTC to highlight the efforts of the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy (Freight Office), such as overseeing state freight plans and developing the National Multimodal Freight Network. The map, which will be developed by the end of 2024, will be utilized to direct resources toward improving freight system performance and inform freight transportation planning, among other uses. Additionally, the Freight Office is leading a data exchange project between the public and private sector through the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) initiative. The Freight Office has been able to rely on FLOW data to guide its response and understand how the industry is responding to various disruptions, such as the Red Sea conflict and the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.
Connecting the Dots: Digital Infrastructure
Moderated by Craig Toth, Program Consultant and Vice President for HNTB, this panel examined how system planners and owners are incorporating digital infrastructure to maximize the utilization of supply chain assets.
David Libatique, Deputy Executive Director of Stakeholder Engagement for the Port of Los Angeles, discussed the Port Optimizer – a cloud-based solution that enables ports and supply chain stakeholders to operate more efficiently and help cargo owners bring their goods to market in a more predictable and timely manner. Dr. Andrea Hoff, Senior Project Manager for the San Diego Association of Governments, highlighted the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project, which will use technologies to improve mobility, reduce border crossing wait times, improve air quality, and support binational trade. Kim Holland, Assistant Secretary of Strategic Development for the Florida Department of Transportation, discussed how FDOT leveraged various state and federal funding programs to increase truck parking availability and prepare for future demands.
Keynote Address: White House Perspectives on BIL Implementation
Deputy Assistant to the President for Infrastructure Implementation for the White House Samantha Silverberg provided keynote remarks related to the administration’s implementation of the BIL. Two and a half years into implementation of the BIL, the administration has delivered over $450 billion to over 56,000 projects. She emphasized the importance of investing in freight infrastructure through programs like the Port Infrastructure Development Program, the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects program (INFRA), and the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program (Mega) to support supply chain resiliency and workforce development. She encouraged the audience to visit invest.gov to understand how BIL dollars are being used across the country.
Strong Port Strategies (SPS) announced that another distinguished veteran of the U.S. Department of Transportation has joined its ranks.
After serving over 20 years as a senior executive in the USDOT and 24 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, Roger Bohnert has become the firm's COO and President of Surface Transportation Strategies.
"Until today, we could claim that we were one the nation's leading maritime, aviation and intermodal transportation consultancies," says Lauren Brand, CEO of Strong Port Strategies. "Now, with Roger on our team, and his experience in highway projects, transit development, and passenger and freight rail, our services fully extend to surface transportation, from coast to coast."
After 45 years of federal service, beginning with active duty in the United States Coast Guard to retiring as Director, Office of Outreach and Project Development at the Build America Bureau, Roger brings a diverse background of transportation operations, business development, project finance, policy and delivery to Strong Port Strategies and their clients.
"During my time in Washington, I am very proud to have helped build and upgrade America's infrastructure," says Bohnert. "Working with States, municipalities and the private sector, we created a $42 billion pipeline of transportation projects and saw more than $29 billion in loans close since the Bureau's launch in 2016."
In addition to surface transportation, Roger has a great deal of experience in maritime administration, intermodal development and national security. Prior to his appointment to the Bureau, he led initiatives to develop and fund port modernization projects, oversaw development of the U.S. Marine Highway Program to expand coastal and inland water transport, and coordinated DOT's response to numerous hurricanes and national disasters.
"Few infrastructure goals can be achieved without addressing interdependent issues and systems, often involving several sectors and disciplines," says Bohnert. "At Strong Port Strategies, we believe this can be a powerful tool to deliver positive outcomes."
With a trillion-dollar backlog in vital transportation infrastructure maintenance and upgrade projects required across the country, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, there is still much work to do.
Leveraging the knowledge of three of America's foremost experts in maritime, aviation, surface and intermodal transportation, Strong Port Strategies provides unparalleled technical expertise and strategic insight into transportation policies, programs, grants and funding opportunities.
Read the release here.
On May 13, FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt visited the I-55 Bridge in Memphis. TDOT currently has a pending Bridge Investment Program grant application along with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT).
TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley and staff were pleased to host Administrator Bhatt and many other special guests for a lunch discussion and tour on site whereby Administrator Bhatt heard directly from the community why the I-55 Memphis-Arkansas Bridge needs to be replaced.
The proposed project, branded as the America's River Crossing on I-55 Over the Mississippi River Bridge Replacement, will replace the existing 75-year-old I-55 bridge and seismically retrofit it to improve safety and address route resiliency for the 64,000 vehicles carrying residents, workers and freight moving between Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi every day.
The group participating in the visit included Congressman Steve Cohen and staff, Tennessee state legislators, Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon, members of the Greater Memphis Chamber, numerous other business leaders, and ARDOT Director Lori Tudor and staff.
View the proposed design here.