FTP/SIS/FMTP Regional Workshop - Tampa

Transcription

1 Meeting Highlights Welcome and Introductions FTP/SIS/FMTP Regional Workshop - Tampa September 2, 2015 FDOT District 7 Auditorium N. Malcolm McKinley Drive Tampa, FL Debbie Hunt, FDOT District 7 Director of Transportation Development, welcomed participants to the Florida Transportation Plan (FTP), Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), and Freight Mobility and Trade Plan (FMTP) Regional Workshop. She specifically thanked elected officials and FTP/SIS Steering Committee members for their participation in the workshop including: Vice Chair Al Higginbotham, Hillsborough County Commission Councilman Bill Johnson, City of Clearwater Debbie introduced Rich Biter, FDOT Assistant Secretary, Intermodal Systems Development, to provide an overview of the objective of the workshop. Rich introduced Brad Swanson, FDOT Freight, Logistics, and Passenger Operations Administrator, to provide a brief description of the FTP, the SIS, and the FMTP and reviewed the materials provided to participants at registration. Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) Goals Discussion Dana Reiding, FDOT Office of Policy Planning, provided a detailed overview of the FTP and described the seven FTP goal areas and supporting objectives developed based on input from the FTP/SIS Steering Committee. After reviewing the seven goal areas, Dana asked participants to identify what, if anything, was missing from the goal areas or objectives, what could be enhanced, and if there were any concerns with what was presented. Participants offered the following questions and comments related to the seven FTP goal areas (in bold): Goal Area: Safety and security for residents, visitors, and businesses GPS in all public vehicles to be able to use apps to track them, use cameras inside public transport vehicles (school buses). Goal Area: Agile, resilient, and quality transportation infrastructure There were no specific comments for this goal area. Goal Area: Efficient and reliable mobility for people and freight Goals 2&4 (Infrastructure and Choices) can be conflicting if sitting at rail crossing (balance train crossing times with public use). Increase communication with private rail operators. Increase speed of freight rail movement.

2 Efficient use of a rail facility (optimize existing facilities). Goal Area: More transportation choices for people and freight Need roads designed for transit options. Goal Area: Transportation Solutions that support Florida s global economic competiveness There were no specific comments related to this goal area. Goal Area: Transportation solutions that support quality places to live, learn, work, and play Scenic Highway Program is great. FDOT needs to look at how infrastructure can put people first, accessibility needs to be enhanced. 1st Objective (new mobility options and technologies) needs to discuss how we develop our systems in developed and historic areas, especially in terms of highways. Goal Area: Transportation Solutions that support Florida s environment and energy Value landscaping over pavement to enhance the environment and reduce water runoff. General Discussion Have a marketing goal, outreach to the public. Need more options including transit and commuter rail. Need a master plan to put in commuter rail instead of roads. Make it a competitive choice. Enhanced connectivity of our trail system. Promote environmental tourism. Historic unbalanced approach of automobiles over biking and transit. Need mobility options for people to retire in place. Millennials and Boomers have similar travel needs. How will the Skyway Bridge impact the future development of the port in terms of accommodating larger ships? Using funds for off-sis facilities that support SIS facilities. How are we getting input from the environmental justice communities (Title 6)? Need to talk about technology improvements and how automated and connected vehicles will impact our transportation system. Advancement may happen faster than the plans can be implemented. 2

3 Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Policy Plan Discussion Brian Watts, FDOT Office of Policy Planning, provided a brief overview of the SIS, its purpose, and the types of facilities that qualify for SIS designation. He introduced the three objective areas that were developed based on input from by the SIS Advisory Group and the FTP/SIS Steering Committee. Participants offered the following questions and comments related to the three SIS objectives (in bold). Responses by staff are denoted in italics: SIS Objective: Increase the efficiency and reliability of connectivity between Florida s economic regions and between Florida and other states and nations No specific comments were made related to this SIS Objective. SIS Objective: Expand, integrate and connect transportation choices for interregional trips No specific comments were made related to this SIS Objective. SIS Objective: Provide transportation systems to support Florida as a global hub for trade, tourism, talent, innovation, and investment No specific comments were made related to this SIS Objective. General Comments Where is McDill on the SIS map? Are other military bases in Florida on the map? Connections to military facilities are shown. When is the last time FDOT evaluated what criteria we use for the SIS Designation Criteria? This will be revisited with the upcoming SIS Implementation Plan, to be prepared after the SIS Policy Plan is completed. Has the SR 44 extension and extension of the SunCoast been looked at for the SIS map or the extension of the Turnpike up to Jacksonville? The designation process was explained and adding facilities requires a request via the appropriate FDOT district. Has there been any thought on including park & ride facilities on the SIS? It has been talked about in association with fixed guideway passenger service. Lack of connectivity between the airports (increase public transit between airports). Intermodal Logistics Centers are left off all SIS maps (specifically the Winter Haven Intermodal Logistics Center). The maps have not caught up to the actual designation of the Winter Haven ILC. Separate freight movement from passenger vehicles. How is the SIS funded? A very brief description of the variety of funding options was provided. SIS funding is part of the package. Will the West Shore multimodal center will take pressure away? Is it SIS? How does it get funded? Is it state funds? Funded by the gas tax? Disappointed high-speed rail to Orlando failed. Is there a chance of revisiting the plan? Will the Miami-Orlando All Aboard Florida high-speed train be shown on the SIS map? How did Tampa get left out of the service? Clarified designation must be requested. 3

4 Break More grade separation in other countries. Is that part of the SIS plan? It makes sense that if we are looking at 2060 we need to think about how we move the SIS faster if we are going to get passenger city connections. Some military bases met SIS criteria, but can large universities be considered for trip generation? How does SIS designation relate to urban corridors? Finish US 19, SR 54, and give them additional connections other than I-275. The transportation investments are supporting economic development and should be coordinated with preferred context/land uses. Freight Mobility and Trade Plan Discussion QUESTION 1: DID WE GET THE FMTP RIGHT? IS THERE ANYTHING WE MISSED? (E.g. What is working well? What s not? Anything missing? Does it support and enhance economic development?) Policy Element: Florida Freight Story; Florida Freight System (Demands, Trends, Performance); Key Freight Issues; Challenges & Policy Direction. Investment Element: Freight Goals; System Performance Issues; Florida Freight Network & Freight Project Definitions; Project Prioritization Process (weighted criteria); Freight Project Needs List; & Funding, Financing and Next Steps. Listening Session Comments & Suggestions Top priorities for companies locating is the availability of/ access to a quality workforce. This is a key to freight and freight movement. What about changing trends in funding roads, decreasing gas tax, tolls etc. Where is that reflected in the plan? Legislation- freight logistics zones category No implementing language and is locally led. Local governments are figuring out how to bring to FDOT. Mixture of freight moved in local communities in Tampa region. From an environmental justice perspective- what mitigating ideas are being considered now and in future what different routes considered. Look at current issues. Is there a strategy to deal with community impacts. FDOT and MPO effort on complete streets initiative- FLORIDA MOBILITY AND TRADE PLAN- TAMPA LISTENING SESSION QUESTION #2: WHAT EMERGING TRENDS OR CHANGES MIGHT REQUIRE A COURSE CORRECTION FOR THE FMTP? (E.g. What changes are happening in industry? What are the future projects, opportunities and challenges that should be addressed? How can the FMTP keep pace with new technologies and project needs? Etc.) Listening Session Comments & Suggestions Air Freight. Is the expansion of Tampa Airport accommodating larger freight vehicles? A: Passenger focused only. 4

5 Interest in bringing more air freight into Tampa Airport? A: Air cargo facility at airport. Capacity to serve is there. However freight goes to the least expensive route. Air freight applies to products with a high value and a need for timely delivery. Rail Freight. Challenge on interstates with phalanx of trucks is intimidating. Is there an interest in increasing rail freight activity/capacity. Double tracking etc. Phosphate is 80% of freight tonnage on rail in Florida. Freight Delivery- Last mile. Consideration of more local options for freight delivery? E.g. Amazon/drones, local supermarket delivery services, etc. A: Local delivery issue driven by market forces. Connected with the complete streets approaches to design consideration on local facilities- last mile connections. This is a last mile issue- it is a big deal in the plan and projects being considered. There may be legacy issues that need to be addressed locally. Regulations and restrictions on the timing/scheduling of truck deliveries that impact local communities? A: Trucks can use state roads at all times. This may be a local issue to take up with the city and county. District 3 doing a study on scheduled deliveries. Issue is being looked at. Complex issue- both truckers and receivers. Scheduled pick up at seaports is being studied/tested. Hillsborough- trucks are supposed to use designated roads in unincorporated HC. Since Scheduling strategies also handled on a case by case basis. Are we on the same page with the Freight issue? A: lots of comments here on last mile those are concerns of those in the freight industry as well. Use of inland intermodal truck facilities to address this? System Maintenance. Is maintaining the condition of the roads part of the plan to increase greater freight usage? A: Yes this is a big issue and concern. Port Access. Skyway Bridge height and shipping channel depth issues? Addressed in plan? A: 41 mile channel. Tampa- not considering additional dredging for accommodating freight ships. Passenger cruise ships may be impacted. Port and community will need to consider what to do with the Skyway Bridge. Neighborhood impacts from freight- MPO addresses this thorough studies and public involvement. Context Sensitive Design. Consider context sensitive designs especially in urban areas. Central Florida Parkway and Freight Movement. Feasibility study underway. Look at this in terms of design and phasing to achieve cost saving and bring this about and improve connectivity. Important issue for freight movement in central Florida. Plant City- utilities for future infrastructure needs. Warehousing in Polk County- what is the master plan for transportation capacity to serve warehousing? Updating the FMTP. Freight plan is dynamic and will be doing an update this year (2015) to the needs list- the needs survey will be opened to accept any new projects or more information on existing projects. Freight and Local Land Use. Growth in south Hillsborough County- Amazon facility. Port Manatee. Land use plans looking at growth. Conflicting interests with new residences growing along with freight. Where will this be going? Plant City, Polk County issue raises the question of increasing payloads for vehicles- how does the plan address this foreseeable change- upgrading local roads and land use decisions? A: Land 5

6 uses controlled at the local level. FDOT and MPOs attempt to coordinate but it is an ongoing challenge. State more in a reactive role, but do have some input. DRIs? What happened? A: still a land use planning process but DRIs are no longer being used. Freight and Tolling. District 7- toll lanes- I-275- will this help or hurt truckers? On freight sidehow to balance investments in passenger and freight- A: discussions going on in terms of freight only/dedicated lanes. Focus on past tolling has been on passenger side. 6