I-69/I-75 Intermodal
Transportation Study
for Genesee,
Shiawassee, Saginaw, Lapeer, and St. Clair County
Study Purpose
To conduct a comprehensive Intermodal Transportation Study along the corridors
of I-69/I-75 to further improve commercial and passenger transportation
efficiencies in the region.
Project Description
Since NAFTA the enactment of trade between the United States and Canada has been
on the rise. The Genesee County area has seen major increases in the amount of
commuter and commercial traffic that comes to and crosses through the area.
With the development pressures in southeast Michigan, daily commuter
traffic is increasing at a steady pace. Increased
use of “just-in-time” delivery by area businesses has also compounded
commercial traffic in the area. These
increases affect not only our highway use and highway capacity but our rail and
air capacity as well. For businesses, the economic effect of timely
transportation has never been greater. Delays
in the transport of cargo can translate to an increased cost both for the
supplier and customer. Improvements
to the intermodal transportation system can increase its efficiency and provide
cost savings to area businesses.
The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission
(GCMPC) has partnered with the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce to propose an
Intermodal Transportation Study. This
study will evaluate the deficiencies and improvements of highway, air and rail
corridors necessary to facilitate the transport of commercial goods and
passenger traffic along I-69/I-75, and US-23 from the Blue Water Bridge to the
I-69/M-52 interchange.
Although the study will focus on the I-69/I-75/US-23
as a crossroads, the scope of the study will extend to and include Sarnia,
Canada to the east, Saginaw County to the north,
and Shiawassee County to the west. The need to develop and understand the needs of all the
stakeholders is a major effort that will need to be undertaken.
In addition to the MPOs through this region, there are several other
government entities which will need to be included.
The regional scope of the study, and a comprehensive analysis of the
needs and deficiencies, is crucial in effecting efficient movement of goods and
people. Bringing all of the stakeholders together will allow for
consensus building and long term strategies to improve efficiencies in
commercial transportation.
Just as the geographic area studied will need to be
broad, so to will the modes of travel. In
addition to highway travel; rail and air operations, will also need to be
examined. Each of these modes has a
unique role in moving commerce to or through the region.
Genesee County MPO has not previously had the opportunity to evaluate the
regional needs of each travel mode. In
order to develop a comprehensive plan, the stakeholders from each mode must be
part of the planning process from the start.
This will further the consensus building going on between governmental
units, and will affect the long term strategies proposed.
Highway
I-69 will be the geographic focus of the study.
I-69’s link to Canada at the Bluewater Bridge is our strongest highway
link to international trade. The
interchange of I-75 and US-23 in Flint is a unique opportunity to disperse
traffic to the north, south, and the west.
I-475 also provides an alternate route to the north and south during
times of high congestion. The study
will attempt to assess the commercial truck volume and destinations throughout
the region. Improvements to the infrastructure as well as any Intelligent
Transportation System (ITS) options will need to be evaluated using the highway
data collected.
Rail
Currently, there are three railroad companies, CN, CSX, and Central
Michigan, operating freight routes through Genesee County.
They serve the automotive industry primarily and are the focus of
rail/highway transfer operations. With
the double decker tunnel at Sarnia these routes are a natural for the increased
freight traffic into the United States. Amtrak
also provides passenger services from Toronto, Ontario through Genesee County to
Chicago, Illinois. The study will
need to determine the linkages that need to be made in order to allow the
railroads to realize their freight potential.
Air
Air traffic has increased in the region over the past several years.
Flint’s Bishop International Airport and MBS Airport in Saginaw are two
airports with high potential for growth, both in passengers and freight volume.
The freight opportunities for these medium sized airports will increase
within an efficient transportation system.
The study will need to determine the linkages that need to be made in
order to allow the airports to realize their freight potential.
Summary
With the unique opportunity for transferring cargo from one mode to
another and from one direction to another in this region, an intermodal study of
the I-69/I-75/US-23 border and corridors is needed to identify not only the
strengths of the area, but also the deficiencies, and possible improvements.
Additionally, the opportunity to develop a study review committee that
identifies other deficiencies to the transportation of goods i.e., customs,
freight regulations etc., is crucial to comprehensively address needed
improvements. The data collected
and any suggested improvements for transport of goods will complement passenger
traffic as well.
An Intermodal Facility and or Distribution Centers, ITS improvements along the
corridor and at the border, as well as specific infrastructure improvements are
all potential opportunities to assist in developing transportation efficiencies
in the region. The study of the
current situation, a needs analysis and long term projections for freight and
passenger travel will allow the region to pull together a long-term investment
strategy that will be an economic gain to the community for years to come.
Study Outline
Phase I
Funding:
$250,000.00 SPR State,
$100,000.00 Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission funds.
Highlights:
Region’s location and vital transportation infrastructure
Preliminary List of Potential Projects to include: distribution centers, rail,
rail crossing, port, airport, road and interchange improvements.
Regional Perspective – Everybody Wins!
Timeline:
Started January 2001
Finished December 2001
Funding:
$140,952.00 Transportation & Community & Systems Preservation Program--
Federal
Highlights:
Development of Location and Site Evaluation Criteria
Timeline:
Started September 2001
Finished September 2002
Phase III
Funding:
$1.3 million of FY 2001
State CTF funds
Highlights:
Design and Implementation of
Quick Start and Major Investment Projects
Submission of a $4 million Regional Notice of Intent to Federal Highways for the
Borders/Corridors Program
Financial Recognition of the Corridor’s Importance in the TEA-21
Re-authorization
Secure Additional Funding through Public and Private Partnerships
Timeline:
Start September 2002
1st Projects for the 5 County Study Area under construction April
2003
Roles and Responsibilities
The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) will act
as fiduciary and lead in a technical issues role.
GCMPC will also ensure that the study follows the MPO processes.
It is the intent of GCMPC to contract out all phases of this intermodal study with a
consultant. GCMPC will develop and
review the Request for Qualifications and the Request for Proposal (RFP).
GCMPC will review all work done by the selected consultant and address
questions and concerns to a project advisory team.
The Flint Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership
with GCMPC, will establish an Intermodal Study Review Committee.
The Intermodal Study Review Committee will be made up of all of the
stakeholders, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Michigan
Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) as
well as any other groups who have an interest.
There will be a steering committee that will meet on a regular basis as
well as public information meetings to keep everyone informed of the studies
progress. The input and feedback
from the committees and public meetings will be an integral part of the study.
As has always been the practice MDOT will be a key
player in any transportation decisions that are going to be made in the state.
MDOT will be relied on for their expertise in studies of this magnitude.
MDOT will also be relied on for data that may already have been collected
through other efforts.
The consultant will collect all of the data and prepare all reports to the committees as well as the final documents. The consultant will be prepared to discuss their progress at quarterly meetings of the stakeholders as well as more informal progress reports with GCMPC staff and the various committees set up for the study.
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