DOT's Freight Advisory Committee Issues Recommendations on the National Freight System
The committee's recommendations place emphasis on the importance of a long-term transportation plan.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC) has issued recommendations to improve the national freight system. They place an emphasis on the importance of a long-term transportation plan, according to a report from DOT. The recommendations will be used to inform the development of DOT's National Freight Strategic Plan.
The report – which contains 81 recommendations from the NFAC – was submitted to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx ahead of a two-day NFAC meeting in Washington, D.C. The recommendations include suggestions to improve safety and security across the freight rail network, highlight various funding needs and challenges, propose exploring ways to improve collaboration for multi-jurisdictional freight planning, propose ways for addressing workforce development needs, and call for "increased streamlining processes and better collection of data and research."
"Our nation's economic competitiveness depends on a transportation network that can move freight safely and efficiently, especially as we are expected to move double the current amount by 2050," Foxx said in the report. "I appreciate the work of the advisory committee – their suggestions will help inform the department's work improving our country's future freight system."