RECORD OF MEETING

FREIGHT TASK FORCE

 

Friday, May 20, 2005, CDTC Office, Albany, NY

 

Attendance: 

 

Denise Zieske (Albany Airport)

Tony Vasil (Port of Albany)


Joe Tario (NYSERDA) 

Ted Thompson (NYSDOT)

Shannon Beirman (Thruway Authority)

Jason Purvis (CDTC)

 

 

Discussion Items

 

A. Port of Albany PIDN - T. Vasil noted that although the PIDN is not self-sustaining, there has been a lot of success working with exporters and importers.  Recently, additional CMAQ funds were received to continue operations.  The barges can handle about 400 containers per trip and are currently about 25% full.  Currently this is the only maritime PIDN in operation to reduce congestion at PANYNJ.  The Albany PIDN continues to have a higher export (logs, wood pulp, GE plastics, scrap metal)  

 to import (tile and wine) ratio.  Tony distributed the most recent PIDN numbers and indicated an increase in the price of container service would be occurring soon.

 

B. NYSDOT Projects –Ted Thompson reported:

·       DOT  currently has an ongoing lecture series “Driving Change” to better promote freight movement.

 

·       Transformation of DOT looking to be more corridor based--trade corridors and how that relates to operations management and economic development.

 

·       Currently, there is a regularly scheduled train in/out of Chicago that is full of truck trailers.

 

·       I-90 Exits 2-5 will be closed for reconstruction Monday through Friday nights including 3 full weekends.  A letter will be sent to over 200 private firms informing of the closing schedule.

 

 

C. Status of Technical Memo to CDTC - J. Purvis asked that the members of the Task Force review the draft document and provide any comments.  The memo is expected to serve as the Goods Movement portion of the New Visions 2030 update.  Related to this topic, there was a brief discussion of managed lanes in the Capital District and how they would affect freight movement.  It was thought that outside of the peak hours, there is not much of a problem and not enough infrastructure to make them feasible.  It was agreed that there may be some border crossing questions related to their use.

 

Member Updates/Current Events

 

 

NYSERDA – J. Tario noted that NYSERDA is still working on a study at Hunt’s Point Market.  J. Tario also cited a Public Roads article stating that 75% of all traffic signals are out of timing and would like to set up a program to make technology resources available to local municipalities.

 

Albany Airport –D. Zieske reported that the runway expansion is underway and is expected to be complete in August 2006.  As part of this project, the cargo ramp is being expanded.  D. Zieske also noted that the airport is looking into flying in produce but there questions as to what to put on the outgoing planes.

 

Thruway Authority- S. Beriman reported that the truck stop electrification is still ongoing near Syracuse.  The toll increase is in effect and there have been no major problems.  The Thruway is studying the number of bridge hits and are putting together a brochure looking at the economic impacts

 

Upcoming Events

 

CDTC Freight Task Force Meeting: August 19, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at the CDTC Offices.