Vermont Statewide Freight Plan

   Overview
 

Freight transportation is the backbone of Vermont’s economy. It provides the goods and services that the economy depends on and that people rely on. VTrans recognizes the need to incorporate freight considerations into the statewide transportation planning process. To achieve this goal, VTrans initiated the Vermont Freight Plan – which will encompass many different but complimentary components that will be integrated to provide a comprehensive statewide Freight Plan.

The following goals are set out for the Freight Plan:

§  Develop a better understanding of the freight transportation system and freight movements from, to and through Vermont;

§  Identify current and emerging freight issues, trends, challenges and opportunities;

§  Examine the environmental impacts of current and future freights movements;

§  Increase private and public understanding of system level goods movement and logistics issues;

§  Develop freight goals for VTrans and associated performance measures to assess progress towards meeting those goals; and

§  Identify and prioritize future investments in the freight transportation system.

Schedule

The following schedule highlights major milestones in the development of the Freight Plan. This schedule is current as of May, 2009, and may change as the plan develops.

Advisory Group

An Advisory Group – consisting of various public and private freight stakeholders – has been formed to provide guidance, plan development coordination, and work product review for the Plan.

Advisory Group Member List

A.N. Deringer, Inc

Matt Walker, District Manager

Bellavance Trucking

Rolland Bellavance, President

Burlington International Airport

Brian Searles, Director of Aviation

Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization

Michele Boomhower, Executive Director

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

Jennifer Hoare, Manager

Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation

Joan Goldstein, Executive Director

New England Central Railroad

Charles Hunter, General Manager

U.S. Customs & Border Protection

John P. Makolin, Area Port Director (Vermont & New Hampshire)

Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Dana Eidsness, Director of International Trade

Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Chris Barbieri, Director Asia Division

Study Team

A consultant team led by Cambridge Systematics was selected to assist in the development of the Vermont Freight Plan. Other consultant firms working on the plan include PB Americas which will provide rail operations and engineering expertise, Fitzgerald & Halliday will be coordinating the public involvement process, and Economic Development Resources Group will be providing economic and industry analyses.