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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Guidelines for Identifying National Highway System Connections to Major Intermodal Terminals

This Policy Memorandum was Canceled June 23, 1999.


FHWA Policy Memorandums - Office of Environment and Planning

ACTION: Guidelines for Identifying
National Highway System Connections
to Major Intermodal Terminals

Date: April 14, 1995
Associate Administrator for Program Development HEP-12
Regional Administrators  

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for use by the States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) in identifying National Highway System (NHS) connections to major intermodal terminals. Copies should be made available to the divisions, State transportation agencies, MPOs and any other organizations, agencies, groups, and operators of intermodal terminals with an interest in this process.

When the proposed NHS was submitted to Congress in December 1993, we acknowledged that more work was needed on the identification of connections to major intermodal terminals. The attached guidance is intended to complete this important aspect of the proposed system.

In developing the proposed system during 1992 and 1993, nearly total flexibility was provided in identifying connections to intermodal terminals. This approach produced inconsistent results and insufficient coverage of intermodal terminals . The guidance provided with this memorandum is designed to achieve greater consistency in identifying connections to major intermodal terminals.

Before developing the guidelines, we consulted with representatives from a number of organizations and agencies, including the American Trucking Associations, AASHTO, the American Association of Port Authorities, Greyhound Lines, Inc., Amtrak, the American Public Transit Association, and the Intermodal Association of North America, as well as with representatives from the other modal administrations, to obtain their views on possible criteria for use in this effort. Based on these meetings and working with information provided by the States in response to our November 8, 1994, memorandum, we concluded that a criteria-based approach, described fully in theattached guidance, should be used for this effort. We believe this approach will produce consistency in results at the National level while providing sufficient flexibility to accommodate differing State characteristics, plans and investment strategies.

Consistent with the provisions of Section 1006 of the ISTEA, the identification of NHS connections to major intermodal terminals should be accomplished by the States in cooperation with the MPOs. While it is appropriate and indeed necessary for the States to take the lead in this effort, the work must be accomplished in cooperation with the MPOs and in consultation with other appropriate public and private sector organizations and agencies such as transit operators, intercity bus operators, terminal operators, and transportation carriers and shippers.

Statewide Planning Division staff is available to conduct workshops in each region to explain the guidelines and to address any State-specific issues. Funds are included in your travel budgets under Washington Office directed travel for this purpose. More specifics on the workshops, including points of contact to schedule a workshop, are included in the guidelines.

Policy questions related to this memorandum and the attached guidelines should be directed to Mr. George Schoener, Chief, Statewide Planning Division on (202) 366-4067 or to Mr. Thomas Weeks on (202) 366-5002. Technical questions should be directed to Mr. Robert Gorman (202) 366-5001 or to Mr. Lee Chimini on (202) 366-4068, respectively.

 

/s/ Thomas J. Ptak