Freight Information

Here outlined are our most current local, state, and national resources addressing freight activity. Also provided below are a number of highlight sources of freight information and data.

Announcements

The newest edition (2007) of FHWA's annual publication, Freight Facts and Figures is now available.
Download the Freight Presentation from the the 28 Nov 2007 BOD meeting (6.4mB Powerpoint *.ppt file).
View the Vermont Rail Council Schedule & Minutes.
See the latest version of the Vermont State Rail & Policy Plan (Dec 2006).
View CCMPO's FY-2006 product for the Transportation Planning Initiative (TPI) Work Plan Task - "Identification of Marketable and Developable Property Adjacent To Railroad Rights-of-Way Throughout the State of Vermont" (July 2006).
See the latest information on "Quiet Zones" (2006).
On December 2004, the CCMPO Board of Directors passed a Rail Resolution.
Participate in the "Talking Freight" Seminar Series, hosted by the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations. This series is part of an initiative aimed at providing technical training, tools, and information on freight planning via an interactive forum utilizing the telephone and the WWW.

KING STREET CROSSING ~ BURLINGTON WATERFRONT ~ AUG 2006

Vermont Western Corridor Studies

Click here for study listing for the entire corridor

"Chittenden County and The Western Vermont Rail Corridor" summary paper (2003)

Meetings & Information

Testimony indicates RDCs have advantages over Colorado Railcars ~ Jan 2007

View the RDC Slideshow (2.72 mB *.PDF)

Exploring Passenger Rail Service for the Burlington area ~ 24 Mar 2006

Vermont Rail Freight Studies

Title Year Description Agency Rec

An Analysis of Externality Costs of Freight Transportation in Vermont 2005 A comparison of the external costs associated with both truck freight and rail freight shipments within the Middlebury-Burlington corridor. Net benefits are calculated of increasing the use of rail in this area to 100% of its current capacity... Middlebury College Yes

ABRB Infrastructure Improvement Identification & Prioritization 2004 Scoping Report on ABRB (Albany-Bennington-Rutland-Burlington) Corridor within the State, entailing indentification of necessary infrastructure upgrades... VTrans

Chittenden County Regional Freight Study 2001 Comprehensive study designed to present the region's existing and emerging freight movement issues and needs, and logically plan for investments in the transportation system CCMPO Yes

Vermont Statewide Freight Study 2001 Freight Data Inventory and data analysis, Freight profile, Freight Demand Modeling Tool and additional modelling capabilities... VTrans Yes

Burlington & Rutland Railyard Relocation Feasibility Study
2000 Identification / Assessment of Potential Locations, Descriptions of existing conditions, Cost estimates, Funding Strategies... VTrans None

New England Central Railroad Double Stack Clearance Study 1999 Vermont Legislature mandated feasibility study to evaluate suitability of double stack traffic according to industry clearance standards... VTrans/New England Central Railroad

Vermont Passenger Rail Studies

Title Year Description Agency Rec

Contingency Planning for Passenger Rail Service in Vermont - Draft Copy 2005 Specific analysis and recommendations concerning sustaining and modifying passenger rail service in Vermont for the Vermonter and the Ethan Allen train services... Patrick J. Garahan, P.E., Consultant for VTrans Yes

Vermont Passenger Rail Study 2003 This study was generated in response to AmTrack forcasting less service while requesting more in operating subsidies for FY 2004. The leaders of the Vermont House & Senate Transportation Committees wanted to know whether or not there was an alternative to escalating costs projected by AmTrak and to be borne by the state. Vermont Transportation Authority Yes

Boston-Montreal High-Speed Rail (BMHSR) 2003 The Final Report of Phase I of the Boston to Montreal High Speed Rail Feasibility and Planning Study (BMHSR Study) VT, MA, NH

Report To Congress - Western Corridor Study 2000 This report responds to a Congressional request to evaluate the capital costs associated with a proposed passenger rail route on the western side of the State of Vermont... National Railroad Passenger Corporation

ABRB Passenger Service Study 1998 Feasibility study for establishing passenger rail service along the Vermont Western Corridor. VTrans

Environmental Assessment for Shelburne Road Corridor Rail Improvement Solution 1996 The Vermont Agency of Transportation engaged consultants to consider the feasibility of establishing passenger railroad services on the existing railroad rights-of-way between Charlotte and Burlington, Vermont and to develop the federally required Environmental Assessment. VTrans

Burlington Area Tri-Center Transit Study 1996 The cities of Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski explored Light-Rail Transit systems (LRT) for a consensus on a preferred strategy to improve public transportation linkages between the downtown commercial cores of the three cities. VTrans/CCRPC

Vermont Rail Initiatives

Title Year Description Agency

Gateway Rural Improvement Pilot™ September 2005 A Pilot Project for the Freight Transportation Gateways Program Rutland Redevelopment Authority

GRIP Executive Summary
GRIP Concept Cover Letter
March 2006 The Gateway Rural Improvement Pilot Association, Inc. (GRIP, Inc.) is a Vermont nonprofit corporation dedicated to implementation of the Gateway Rural Improvement Pilot (GRIP). Rutland Redevelopment Authority

National Studies of Interest

FHWA - Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study
AASHTO - Freight Rail Bottom Line Report
Brookings Institution - Principles for a U.S. Public Freight Agenda in a Global Economy

Primary Data

Commodity Flow Survey (CFS)
This survey data provides information on shipped commodities within the United States, such as; value, weight, mode, origin and destination of manufactured, mined, wholesale, and selected retail commodities.

Regional Freight Profile:

Part 1.
Part 2.

Border Activities (2003)
Other Freight Data Sources

Freight & Rail Resources

Vermont:

Federal:

Associations:

For further information, contact Daryl Benoit at 802.660.4071 x12.