fast corridor freight action strategy for everett-seattle-tacoma steve sewell parsons brinckerhoff
TRANSCRIPT
FAST CorridorFAST CorridorFreight Action Strategy for Freight Action Strategy for
Everett-Seattle-TacomaEverett-Seattle-Tacoma
Steve SewellSteve Sewell
Parsons BrinckerhoffParsons Brinckerhoff
What is it?What is it? A $500 million investmentA $500 million investment A series of improvements separating A series of improvements separating
vehicular and rail trafficvehicular and rail traffic A success!A success!
What Does it Do?What Does it Do? Moves the Nation’s freight through a Moves the Nation’s freight through a
major trade corridormajor trade corridor Fixes freight and general traffic Fixes freight and general traffic
bottlenecksbottlenecks Increases the competitiveness of Puget Increases the competitiveness of Puget
Sound PortsSound Ports Creates and maintains jobs and Creates and maintains jobs and
economic healtheconomic health
What Does it Do?What Does it Do? Increases train speed, which increases Increases train speed, which increases
capacitycapacity Reduces traffic congestion at at grade rail Reduces traffic congestion at at grade rail
crossingscrossings
What Does it Do?What Does it Do?
Before
After
The SituationThe Situation Ports of Seattle and Tacoma Ports of Seattle and Tacoma
losing container market share losing container market share to Southern California and to Southern California and Vancouver, B.C.Vancouver, B.C.
““Freight Mobility” one of Freight Mobility” one of many factorsmany factors
Threat to regional Threat to regional competitivenesscompetitiveness
Container cargo a little known Container cargo a little known lifeline: “Freight doesn’t vote”lifeline: “Freight doesn’t vote”
What did we do?What did we do?
Three part strategy:Three part strategy: EducateEducate CollaborateCollaborate LegislateLegislate
EducateEducate
Importance of ports and cargo to the Importance of ports and cargo to the region’s economyregion’s economy
Importance to the national economyImportance to the national economy The risk of doing nothingThe risk of doing nothing
Importance to Washington StateImportance to Washington State One of three jobs relies on One of three jobs relies on
international tradeinternational trade One-third of state’s One-third of state’s
agricultural products; e.g., agricultural products; e.g., hay, cherries, apples, are hay, cherries, apples, are exportedexported
You get a “twofer”- You get a “twofer”- improved traffic flowsimproved traffic flows– Improve safetyImprove safety– Eliminate bottlenecks, Eliminate bottlenecks,
streamline trafficstreamline traffic– Mitigate impact of freight Mitigate impact of freight
and traffic growthand traffic growth
Importance to the NationImportance to the Nation Second…no third…largest container load center in the U.S.Second…no third…largest container load center in the U.S. Asian imports are more than 90%--Asia to comprise 45% of Asian imports are more than 90%--Asia to comprise 45% of
world trade by 2015world trade by 2015 More than 70% More than 70%
of imports of imports through the Puget through the Puget Sound destined Sound destined for Chicago and for Chicago and beyondbeyond
Jobs across the Jobs across the nation rely on nation rely on these importsthese imports
Collaborate=the KEYCollaborate=the KEY
Build Consensus on project prioritiesBuild Consensus on project priorities Truly a partnership—i.e, all take part in risk Truly a partnership—i.e, all take part in risk
and rewardand reward Partners include the State, the three ports, Partners include the State, the three ports,
the Federal Government, local the Federal Government, local municipalities, and two railroads (BNSF municipalities, and two railroads (BNSF and UP)and UP)
A lot of work…saved a lot at the next stepA lot of work…saved a lot at the next step
CollaborateCollaborate
Freight Mobility RoundtableFreight Mobility Roundtable– Public/Private Group sponsored by the local Public/Private Group sponsored by the local
MPOMPO– Participants include: Shippers, ocean rail and Participants include: Shippers, ocean rail and
road carriers, logistics providers, ports, EDC’s, road carriers, logistics providers, ports, EDC’s, local, state and Federal government…even local, state and Federal government…even consultants.consultants.
– An important forumAn important forum
Legislate: The StateLegislate: The State We scared ‘emWe scared ‘em
– Alameda CorridorAlameda Corridor– Job impactJob impact– State competitivenessState competitiveness
We made it easy on ‘emWe made it easy on ‘em– Benefits for the whole stateBenefits for the whole state– Consensus made this the state’s No.1 priority Consensus made this the state’s No.1 priority
for Federal fundingfor Federal funding Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Freight Mobility Strategic Investment
Board Board
Legislate: The Other WashingtonLegislate: The Other Washington
Again, no regional disputesAgain, no regional disputes Our delegation “got it”Our delegation “got it” Bud Shuster and “The Port of Bud Shuster and “The Port of
Chicago”Chicago” The “Borders and Corridors” programThe “Borders and Corridors” program
The ResultThe Result
A $500 million corridor, A $500 million corridor, through which trade can through which trade can flow and traffic moveflow and traffic move
The ResultThe Result
Costs shared by partnersCosts shared by partners Original Plan:Original Plan: State:State: 50%50% Feds:Feds: 25%25% Ports:Ports: 10%10% Local:Local: 10%10% RR’s:RR’s: 5%5% Negotiated adjustments based on changesNegotiated adjustments based on changes
The ResultThe Result Ten of 15 projects Ten of 15 projects
complete or nearly complete or nearly completecomplete
CompleteComplete Under ConstructionUnder Construction Remainder Remainder
completed by ’06completed by ’06
What’s Next?What’s Next? FAST Phase IIFAST Phase II
– ConsensusConsensus– Ten more projects Ten more projects – >$260 million>$260 million– Jobs and Opportunities!!Jobs and Opportunities!!
Thank YouThank You