Thursday, May 31, 2012

Wash. State Senator calls for D.O.T. to establish freight office

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood this week requesting his assistance in establishing a multimodal freight coordinating office that she said should be involved in the "evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and prioritization of proposed freight investments and loan programs."

Senator Cantwell's letter proposes a federal multimodal office that would be at a "high level" and improve "coordination and multimodal freight planning across all modes and U.S. Department of Transportation operating administrations."

"The creation of a freight office represents an opportunity for a great deal of consolidation and process streamlining among the various agencies that work together to move freight," said Kurt Nagle, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities in a statement.

Other industry groups applauded Senator Cantwell's proposal, including U.S. retailers who stressed their reliance on multi-modal supply chains.

"Without advances in the management of freight programs, proper investment, coordination, and planning, retailers will face significant challenges and infrastructure deficiencies that will significantly hinder their ability to move goods around the world and better serve their customers," said Kelly Kolb, vice president of government affairs for the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

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