Funding and Institutional Options for Freight Infrastructure Improvements

2000PDFTech ReportFHWA-OP-00-026Economic developmentFreight transportationFuel taxesGasolineGuidelinesInfrastructureInvestmentsLegal factorsPolicy analysisPoliticsPublic private partnershipsShipmentsState highwaysStrategic planningTransportation policyNorth AmericaUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-Freight Economics and FinanceNTL-FREIGHT-FREIGHTNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONNTL-LAWS AND REGULATIONS-LAWS AND REGULATIONSNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-PLANNING AND POLICYFederal Highway AdministrationThe Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies (IISTPS) at San Jose State University conducted this study to review the issues and implications involved in the investment of public funds in private freight infrastructure. After thorough legal research, the project team reached the following conclusions: Legal Analysis: 1) The California legislature has the legal power to invest public funds in privately-owned freight infrastructure projects. 2) State Highway funds, excepting gas tax revenues, may be used for investment in freight infrastructure projects. 3) Gas tax revenues are restricted to highway use by current interpretations of the California Constitution. A challenge to this interpretation is not recommended. 4) Gas tax revenues may be invested in roadway segments of freight infrastructure projects. Recommendations: 1) An analytical system of guidelines should be developed to score and evaluate any proposed freight infrastructure project. 2) Economic development must be included in these scoring guidelines. 3) Public agencies should maintain political contacts in order to control the political short-circuits of the planning process. 4) The California Department of Transportation should develop a Freight Improvement Priority System for the purpose of prioritizing all freight improvement projects