Mike Franchini (Albany County), Rocky Ferraro (CDRPC), Lee French (NYSTA), Rob Griffith (FHWA Albany), Catherine Lawson (SUNY Albany), Ted Thompson (NYSDOT Region 1), Shannon Van Steenburg (NYSTA), Denise Zieske (Albany Airport), David Jukins (CDTC), Teresa LaSalle (CDTC), Sree Nampoothiri (CDTC) and Jason Purvis (CDTC)

Discussion Items

A. Presentation--R. Griffith made a presentation regarding the new SAFETEA-LU transportation legislation and its implications on goods movement. His presentation is available on CDTC’s website.

B. Port of Albany PIDN – J. Purvis distributed a table showing latest numbers on the Port of Albany Container Barge Service.

B. NYSDOT Projects- T. Thompson noted that the number of containers processed at the Port is down from last year yet overall freight volumes are not quite double of what the 2004 estimates were.

NYSDOT is working on the final approvals for Adirondack Tandem trailers to travel over Exit 26 to the Rotterdam Industrial Park. Currently, NYSDOT is comfortable with the way this has been running.

T. Thompson reported Norfolk Southern and CP Rail have a productive relationship. They are ideally looking at moving the inter-modal yard from the Port of Albany to the area near the Thruway and I-88 to assist trailer on flat car operations.

T. Thompson also reported state funding is now in place for direct produce trains from the state of Washington to Rotterdam Industrial Park. A transit time of 124 hours with 55 cars has been promised. The operation will start with one train per day moving toward the goal of five per day. Possible goods to be put on the train for the return trip include NY wine, cheeses and slate.

C. Member Updates/Current Events

CDRPC – R. Ferraro reported that Seaboard Trade Centers may soon be the administrator and provide public relations to the Foreign Trade Zone. CDRPC will remain the Grantee and will pursue a contract with Seaboard Trade Center. One of the objectives of the company is to develop a strategic plan.

Albany County- M. Franchini noted a few federal aid projects that have freight implications. Everett Road will be complete in November 2005 which includes major improvements to Sand Creek Road. The Watervliet Shaker Road project is just starting and the Jericho Road project over CSX rail yards will result in the replacement of the bridge.

C. Lawson reported that she wrote a paper on the subject of portable parts and will be making a presentation at TRB.

C. Lawson also reported that three semesters of funding have been secured to look at industrial clusters at firms that create truck traffic based on the size of the firm using GIS. A student has been hired to assist with this project.

NYSTA- L. French reported that the Thruway is working with the LCV companies and drivers to change the vehicle and traffic law regarding what roads tandems weighing 143,000 pounds can travel so that the companies can enter their own facilities to make/break the tandems.

L. French also reported that the Thruway is working with trucking companies on pilot programs that would increase the amount of weight that can be carried. Examples include larger “super” tires, and frameless trailers.

Albany Airport- D. Zieske reported that the access to the cargo building at Sicker Road has been closed and the only access is at Kelly Drive.

D. Zieske also reported that the cargo ramp is being expanded to hold one more plane.

R. Griffith reported that the FHWA Albany office is working on special permitting applications and coordinating service operation regulations.

Upcoming Events

CDTC Freight Task Force Meeting:

The next Task Force meeting is scheduled for Thursday February 2, 2006

at 1:30 at the CDTC offices.

Thursday, November 3, 2005, CDTC Office, Colonie, NY