RECORD OF MEETING

FREIGHT TASK FORCE

DATE/TIME/PLACE: July 12, 1993; 10 AM; CDTC Offices

ATTENDANCE: George Macfarlane (UPS), Mary Phillips (Conrail), Tom Magliocca (Port), Steve Iachetta (Albany Airport), John Newman (John T. Newman Associates), Sy Syvertsen (CEG), Douglas Hughes (NYS Motor Truck Assn.), William Corp (Thruway), Chungchin Chen (CDRPC), Dick Carlson (NYSDOT Region 1), Dennis Cottrell/John Lemmerman (NYSDOT Commercial Transport Division), Kristina Younger (CDTC)

DISCUSSION SUMMARY:

Committee membership - A commercial shipper should be added - this is a demand-driven industry. Suggestions were made as who to include. Consideration of the views of commuters was also seen as relevant to the goods movement discussion, although forums other than the Task Force may be more appropriate.

Structure of process - Funding resources for the overall development of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) were discussed. Principal concern is with how Task Forces will know what the others are doing/ how will be coordinated. The overlap of CDTC staff and involvement of Planning Committee members (particularly DOT) in multiple Task Forces should help. The relationship to the interim Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) product (due in September) was discussed. This interim RTP will document commitments made to date, and the current state of affairs. The definition of the Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS), and initial financial projections are the principal pieces of information for Task Force consideration.

Meeting times, places - Monday afternoons in the middle of the month are preferred. CDTC offices are centrally located.

Issues - IVHS is seen as the major technological thrust that will impact the future of goods movement. Many goods movement issues transcend the region's borders, which may make the discussion difficult to contain. The role of pipelines (there are 3 major ones in the Capital District) lies in their importance for specific commodities, what happens if they are shut down (crisis), and siting issues. The Canal System is currently not significant for commercial operations, because "the locks are too small". UPS, as the nation's largest airline, largest user of trains, and most common user of the Thruway sees that is has a direct responsibility for Clean Air, and has supported initiatives such as conversion of urban fleets to alternative fuels. The impact of other Clean Air Act implementation (employee trip reduction ordinances, etc..) will need to be explored more in depth. Also important is vertical/horizontal clearances on many facilities - the trend in goods movement is towards larger "vessels". The retrofit needs in this area could be enormous, if really done comprehensively.

Data needs - Regional input/output data (Reebie Associates in CT) is a good place to start. (A sample was passed out by Douglas Hughes.) Truckers/Conrail are most interested in value of cargo: tonnage may be more relevant to regional transportation planning -- unless really get into economic development factors. Center for Economic Growth has data on business location factors by industry type that will help to inform this discussion. The Thruway's current canal planning efforts (in cooperation with CDRPC) is a valuable information source on waterborne transportation using that system. The Thruway also maintains data on truck use by Exit and classification that is available. The nature of freight operations at the Port (specialized cargo), the Albany airport (12,000 tons last year, tends to be high value), and the Selkirk yards (closed intermodal facility last year, focus on automobile offloading, where trains are classified) were briefly discussed, and should be documented in the Task Force papers.

ACTION ITEMS:

* Kristina Younger to follow up on suggestions for shipper representation from GE, Chapter 37 of Delta Nu Alpha, and the National Industrial Traffic League (NITL).

* NEXT MEETING: Monday, August 23, 1993, 3 - 5 P.M.

* Agenda to include: definition of freight component of Metropolitan Transportation System, initial financial projections, development of the Intermodal Management System (Cottrell), status of data gathering, further discussion/definition of the relevant issues.