Freight, Rail, & Transit Element
Introduction and Overview A key purpose of the 2035 Fuquay-Varina Community Transportation Plan is to deliver recommendations that provided efficient and cost-effective movement of people and goods within and through the Town. Fulfilling this purpose will enhance the economy and trading environment at the local and regional level. Addressing roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian needs combined with continued attention to public transportation will help people move efficiently between destinations. Likewise, the movement of goods relies on a dependable freight network that maximizes usage of existing facilities. Freight and Rail
Freight movement is vital in our economy, which is becoming increasingly dependent on our ability to transfer goods to market efficiently. At the same time, the movement of goods continues to be one of the most expensive parts of the production cycle. One way to reduce costs for end users is to ensure the efficient movement of goods through rail and roadways. Improvements described in the Roadway Element combined with the freight and rail considerations in this chapter provide a coordinated approach to enhance the movement of goods. Identifying these coordinated improvements within the CTP process will help to facilitate
safe and efficient movement of goods. Challenges and Opportunities
The inherent challenges for freight planning due to the private sector’s control over a significant portion of rail facilities does not undermine the importance of freight planning, but rather underscores the need for coordination. Different elements
operate in unique organizational and governing environments. Town regulations guide the location of truck facilities, while the operation of the trucks is controlled by the NCDOT. Rail primarily is regulated at the federal level, but private corporations
determine the use or abandonment of railroad right-of-way. Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, reauthorizes the federal highway and public transportation programs through fiscal year 2020. The legislation includes two programs focused on freight, one of which Fuquay-Varina is eligible for. The FAST Act established the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program which includes the competitive grant known as Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-Term Achievement of National Efficiencies or FASTLANE. The FASTLANE grant is awarded to projects that provide
Chapter 5 Freight, Rail, & Transit Element |page 5 - 1
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