Thrive Regional Partnership adds Chattanooga area perspective to USDOT’s National Freight Strategic Plan
On behalf of its Freight Mobility Coalition, Thrive Regional Partnership submitted recommendations to the National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP) managed by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). The plan sought comments addressing multimodal freight transportation which is both an economic linchpin and gridlock challenge of the greater Chattanooga area.
“There’s effective synergy in this team representing the public and private sector. Together, we’re able to leverage our combined spheres of influence. I believe such a partnership will result in solutions that alleviate congestion, as well as enhance safety, productivity, and quality of life.”
Leveraging the knowledge of its cross-sector Freight Mobility Coalition, Thrive cited several challenges related to product movement, including: road/highway congestion, truck parking, infrastructure deterioration, and safety.
To address current conditions, the nonprofit recommended that the National Freight Strategic Plan:
Support regional partnerships between states and sectors
Modernize commuter capacity on existing routes
Expand broadband capabilities for safety innovations and mapping
Encourage alternate routes that are scenic and “less stress”
Additionally, Thrive offered comments on:
Addressing multi-state projects and encouraging jurisdictions to collaborate
Improving the performance of the National Multimodal Freight Network map
Mitigating the impacts of freight movement on communities
Throughout its letter of comment, Thrive contended that cross-sector, multi-jurisdictional partnerships will be crucial to the success of the NFSP as a whole, providing vital understanding of operational challenges along the freight system. The organization encourages the USDOT to actively and intentionally engage private sector, public and non-public perspectives throughout the process of developing and implementing this national freight strategy.
Read the full letter here.
Banner image © Georgia Ports Authority