The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Wednesday it had released its 2045 Freight Movement Plan (FMP), a comprehensive plan for moving goods throughout the state.
The FMP outlines the state’s freight infrastructure and the department’s effort to improve the safe and efficient movement of freight. Once approved, the plan will ensure Pennsylvania is eligible for an estimated $58.5 million a year in federal funding through 2026 from the National Highway Freight Program.
“The new Freight Movement Plan will help guide the investment decisions we make regarding the infrastructure that supports freight movement,” PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll said. “The plan positions us to respond to the major changes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and ensure Pennsylvania has a safe, efficient, and integrated freight system to support jobs and commerce.”
Along with the 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the FMP set out the state’s transportation priorities and strategies PennDOT and other agencies will use to guide project investments. The FMP was developed over a two-year period through a collaboration with freight stakeholders, the office said, and addresses state and federal provisions for freight planning.
“The FMP’s goals and objectives set a clear direction, and PennDOT will carry out an Action Plan in coordination with freight stakeholders to make systematic progress over the next four years,” PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Planning Larry Shifflet said. “We’ll be regularly tracking implementation progress and performance measures in Pennsylvania’s biennial Transportation Performance Report (TPR).”