2017 State Freight Plan
Fast Act Compliant Document
The Iowa DOT's original, MAP-21 compliant State Freight Plan was amended for FAST Act compliance and submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on June 2, 2017. FHWA reviewed and accepted the amended plan as including all required elements, effective July 21, 2017.
In recent years, the Iowa DOT has embarked on numerous freight planning activities to help achieve this objective, many of which are detailed in the Iowa State Freight Plan. This plan is a way to connect all of these initiatives and allow them to move forward towards a common goal of optimal freight transportation in the state. In addition, the plan will guide Iowa DOT's investment decisions to maintain and improve the freight transportation system, and ultimately strengthen the state’s economy and raise the quality of life for its citizens.
Iowa State Freight Plan Executive Summary
Iowa State Freight Plan
STATE FREIGHT PLAN RECOGNITION
On February 27, 2018, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its report on best practices in freight planning at the state level and the Iowa State Freight Plan was ranked fourth among freight plans nationally. The ATRI report will allow state Departments of Transportation and their consultants to better address those freight planning components that are viewed as most critical by FHWA, state DOTs and State Trucking Association leaders.
As part of their best practices report, ATRI called for nominations of innovative state freight plans from state DOT personnel and freight stakeholders nationwide. The top twelve plans, which included Iowa’s, then formed the basis for an “Ideal Attributes Checklist,” by which all other state freight plans were assessed. The top twelve plans also included Texas, Georgia, California, Mississippi, Florida, Washington, Michigan, Ohio, Nevada, Maryland, and Alabama.
STAKEHOLDER AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
FAC - State Freight Plan Development Process, Feb. 14, 2014
FAC - Freight Goals and Bottlenecks Identification, June 20, 2014
FAC - Collaboration with State Rail Plan, March 27, 2015
FAC - Freight Performance Measures, June 26, 2015
FAC - Freight Strategies and Improvements, Sept. 11, 2015
Stakeholder Issues-based Workshop - Goals Input Exercise, Sept. 24, 2015
Mid-America Freight Coalition – Freight Planning Innovations at Iowa DOT, Nov. 3, 2015
HLSC #1 - Freight strategies, Nov. 18, 2015
FAC - Freight strategies, Dec. 11, 2015
Midwest States Feight/Rail Plan Discussion - Iowa Multimodal Freight Network, Feb. 24, 2016
HLSC #2 - Freight improvements, Feb. 25, 2016
FAC - Freight improvements, March 4, 2016
Commission - State Freight Plan Overview, July 12, 2016
FAC - FAST Act Updates, June 2, 2017
Public input
A 45-day public comment period (May 2 – June 15) was held to gather public input on the plan. A public meeting and corresponding methods for providing input on the draft plan were advertised through several press releases. Posts on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, were also utilized to reach out to the public and gather input on the plan. Public input was collected through a variety of means, but primarily through the public meeting held on June 8 in Des Moines and written comments submitted online.
Other freight-related resources
For additional information, contact:
Sam Hiscocks
Systems Planning Bureau
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-239-1004
Email: samuel.hiscocks@iowadot.us