[ About The Freight Forum ] [ 2012 Activities ]
[ Freight Transportation Guidebook ]
[ Report A Highway Safety Issue ] 
About The Freight Forum
The economic vitality of Southwestern Pennsylvania depends on the ability of the region to safely and efficiently move people, goods and materials into, through and out of the region. The freight transportation network of the region includes the highway and interstate network, including local bridges and roadways, as well as the region’s airports, rail lines and waterways.
Partnerships among the various freight modes – air, rail, waterways and trucking – are crucial to the effective planning of freight transportation needs. To facilitate collaboration between these multiple modes, SPC hosts a Freight Forum where representatives of these various sectors are invited to share information on issues and opportunities relevant to their operations; establish relationships with other freight interests in the region; and, learn about current and upcoming SPC activities. SPC uses information gained at these meetings in the design and implementation of freight-specific roadway improvements such flyover ramps, and in the evaluation of applications for state and federal grant funding.
SPC’s Regional Freight Conference a Success
On Thursday, April 12, 2012, SPC’s Freight Forum program hosted a Regional Freight Conference that brought in public and private sector decision-makers, planners and industry specialists from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The 100 participants learned the latest information about air cargo and rail development activities worldwide and locally; heard about what state and regional planners are doing to assess and enhance the movement of freight; were encouraged to evaluate goods movement from a transportation, land use and economic development perspective; and, were educated on the infrastructure maintenance crisis facing the river transportation system. SPC will take information from this event to more effectively communicate the freight transportation needs of our region with decision-makers at all levels, and will work to develop regional freight partnerships with our adjoining regions and State DOTs to facilitate more integrated freight planning across modes.
Presentations from the Regional Freight Conference are available below in PDF format:
To download these presentations, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, it's available as a free download
from Adobe.
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2012 Activities
SPC broadened its freight outreach efforts beyond the borders of Pennsylvania in 2012, convening its first annual multi-state Regional Freight Conference, and participating in freight planning meetings in Morgantown, WV and the Ohio Freight Conference in Sandusky, OH, forging new partnerships with our neighbors to the west.
In 2012, PennDOT advanced two rail assessment programs in which SPC has played an active role. One is the exploration of issues related to the Marcellus Shale industry and the impacts and opportunities it presents to railroads in the Commonwealth, especially for the railroads of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The other is an assessment of the practice of railbanking or rail corridor preservation in an era where the rescission of railbanking agreements or unrailbanking for new rail development has begun.
Promoting the preservation and enhancement of the Commonwealth’s rail infrastructure is a priority of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Rail Freight. In 2012, SPC staff assisted the Bureau in the review of several dozen applications for rail development funding under the Rail Freight Assistance Program and the Technical Assistance Program (Capital Grant program). SPC was also a regular participant in the Governor’s Rail Freight Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly.
SPC continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Pittsburgh Commission in the evaluation of the long-term infrastructure needs of the Ohio River inland navigation system as a member of the Inter-Agency Working Group for the Upper Ohio Navigation Study, which is an assessment of the locks and dams on the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers in western Pennsylvania.
Partnering activities completed under SPC’s Freight Planning program also include regular participation in the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s Air Cargo Task Force, the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, and attendance at events and programs sponsored by the Traffic Club of Pittsburgh. Training programs completed in 2012 include participation in several FHWA sponsored webinars in the Talking Freight program, and participation in the Pennsylvania Rail Freight Seminar.
In 2012, SPC was also asked to participate in the Technical Advisory Committee/Project Steering Committee for the development of a Statewide Long Range Plan/Goods Movement Plan for Pennsylvania. Involvement in that planning effort is anticipated to continue through the coming program year.
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Freight Transportation Guidebook
SPC, in cooperation with the Port
of Pittsburgh Commission, publishes the Southwestern Pennsylvania
Freight Transportation Guidebook. The Fourth Edition of the Guidebook
is now available for download in PDF.
Download
the Guidebook (3.27 M)
To download the order form, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, it's available as a free download
from Adobe.
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Report Highway Safety Issue
Please use the e-mail link or phone number below to report any
safety hazards for pedestrians and bike riders on the roads of our
ten-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Safety hazards
include but are not limited to: gravelly or overly narrow berms,
no berm at all, obstruction in the road or bike lane, and excessive
wear or potholes.
When you write your message, please Be as specific as possible: i.e., tell us exactly where you found the safety concern by providing the road name, nearby intersections or landmarks, etc.
To report a highway safety issue, contact Sara Walfoort at (412) 391-5590
x339 or e-mail swalfoort@spcregion.org.
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Español
Planificación del transporte de carga
El movimiento seguro y eficiente de mercancías y productos en la región, es esencial para la salud económica de la región Sudoeste de Pennsylvania. El programa de Planificación del transporte de carga identifica y prioriza las necesidades del transporte ferroviario de la región, los intereses del transporte terrestre y del sistema marítimo interno.
Para descargar estos materiales, usted debe tener Adobe Acrobat Reader instalado. En caso de no tener Adobe Acrobat Reader instalado, el programa está disponible en forma gratuita para ser descargado desde el sitio web de Adobe.
SPC proporcionará libres traducciones de documentos vitales por solicitud. Este documento está disponible en otros formatos bajo pedido. Por favor llame al número (412) 391-5590 para obtener más información.
La SPC está comprometida con el cumplimiento de los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de los estatutos de derechos civiles, mandatos ejecutivos, regulaciones y políticas aplicables. Con previo aviso, se pueden hacer ajustes para personas con necesidades especiales relacionadas con habla, vista o audición. Si tiene una petición respecto a una necesidad especial, desea presentar una queja u obtener más información, favor de comunicarse con Matt Pavlosky al (412) 391-5590, extensión 361 o mediante correo electrónico a mpavlosky@spcregion.org.
Français
Planification du fret
Le transport sûr et efficace des biens et des produits à travers toute la région est essentiel à la santé économique du sud-ouest de la Pennsylvanie. Le programme de planification du fret identifie et met l’accent sur les besoins en transport des voies ferrées de la région, les intérêts du camionnage et le système de navigation intérieure.
Pour télécharger ces documents, vous devez disposer du logiciel Adobe Acrobat Reader. Si vous n'avez pas Acrobat Reader, il est disponible en téléchargement gratuit sur le site d'Adobe.
SPC fournira libres traductions de documents essentiels par requête. Ce document est disponible en formats alternatifs sur demande. Veuillez appeler le (412) 391-5590 pour plus d'informations.
La SPC s'engage à se mettre en conformité avec les exigences de non-discrimination des statuts de droits civils applicables, les décrets, les règlements et les politiques. Sur avis préalable, l'hébergement peut être fourni à ceux qui ont des besoins particuliers liés à la langue, à la vue ou à l'audition. Si vous avez des besoins particuliers, n’hésitez pas à nous en faire part, ou si vous désirez de plus amples informations, veuillez contacter Matt Pavlosky au (412) 391-5590, poste 361 ou mpavlosky@spcregion.org.
Deutsch
Frachtplanung
Die sichere und effiziente Bewegung von Gütern und Produkten in der gesamten Region ist entscheidend für die wirtschaftliche Gesundheit vom südwestlichen Pennsylvania. Das Freight Planning Programm identifiziert und priorisiert die Transportbedürfnisse der Eisenbahnstrecken der Region, Interessen der Spediteure und das binnenländische Navigationssystem.
Um dieses Material herunterladen zu können, müssen Sie Adobe Acrobat Reader installiert haben. Falls Sie den Acrobat Reader nicht haben, ist er als kostenloser Download von Adobe verfügbar.
SPC bieten kostenlose Übersetzungen von wichtigen Dokumenten durch Anforderung. Dieses Dokument ist auf Anfrage in anderen Formaten erhältlich. Rufen Sie bitte (412) 391-5590 für weitere Informationen an.
SPC verpflichtet sich zur Einhaltung der Antidiskriminations-Anforderungen der anwendbaren Statuten der Bürgerrechte, Durchführungsverordnungen, Vorschriften und Richtlinien. Bei einer Mitteilung im Voraus können Vorkehrungen für diejenigen Personen getroffen werden, die spezielle Bedürfnisse in Bezug auf ihre Sprache, Sehvermögen oder Hörvermögen haben. Wenn Sie eine Anfrage für ein spezielles Bedürfnis haben, eine Beschwerde einreichen möchten, oder zusätzliche Informationen wünschen, dann kontaktieren Sie bitte Matt Pavlosky unter (412) 391-5590, Nebenstelle 361 oder unter mpavlosky@spcregion.org.
Italiano
Pianifica del trasporto merci
Il trasporto sicuro ed efficace di merci e prodotti in tutta la regione è un aspetto cruciale per la salute economica della Pennsylvania sudoccidentale. Il programma di Pianifica del trasporto merci identifica e fissa le priorità relative al trasporto ferroviario, via camion e alla navigazione nell’entroterra.
Per scaricare questo materiale è necessario aver installato Adobe Acrobat Reader. Chi non ha Acrobat Reader, può scaricarlo gratuitamente dal sito della Adobe.
SPC fornirà libere traduzioni di documenti vitale da richiesta. Su richiesta, questo documento è disponibile in altri formati. Per ulteriori informazioni, si prega di chiamare il numero (412) 391-5590.
’SPC si impegna a rispettare i requisiti di eguaglianza dei diritti civili, degli statuti, degli ordini esecutivi, delle regolamentazioni e delle politiche applicabili. Se richieste in anticipo, possono essere accomodate le necessità particolari collegate alla lingua, alla vista o all’udito. Per richiedere sistemazioni speciali, inviare un commento o altre informazioni, si prega di contattare Matt Pavlosky al numero (412) 391-5590, interno 361 o all'indirizzo e-mail mpavlosky@spcregion.org.
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