Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

Chapter 6 Freight Plan Overview This chapter presents a review and assessm ent of need s, deficiencies, policies and im provem ent options affecting the freight transportation sy stem within the Medford Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). The freight transportation sy stem includes trucking, pipelines, rail and air freight. Issues related to air freight are discussed in the general context of air transportati on in Chapter 9. Freight rail is discussed in Chapter 11. Included in this chapter is a discussion of truc k freight movem ent and pipelines, and it acknowledges the water transportation m ode. Truck Freight Key transportation issues to be addressed in this sec tion will include identify ing appropriate m odifications to the regional truck route sy stem (as identified in the 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan ) to address the city ’s truck routing requirem ents, and determ ining the adequacy of the existing truck route system to serve current and future truck-re lated dem and (as m easured by levels of congestion on truck routes and quality of access to significant truck tr ip generators). Included in this section is a discussion of the local and regional policy context for developing and m aintaining the truck freight system , an evaluation of needs and deficiencies, and a discussion of various im provem ents. Inform ation contained in this m emo was obtained largely from the 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan , from the on-going Rogue Valley Freight Study , and from planning and zoning data supplied by the City of Medford. In addition, th e city ’s Level of Service study evaluated critical connections along the local and regional truck route system and provides insight into the benefits realized by the implem entation of currently -funded roadway improvem ent projects that are expected to be completed within the 20-y ear planning horizon. Policy Context and Back ground The 1999 Oregon Highway Plan recognized the im portance of good freight m obility to the State’s econom y and added a policy to “maintain and improve the efficiency of freight movement on the state highway and access to intermodal connections. The St ate shall seek to balance the needs of long distance and through freight movements and local transportati on needs on highway facilities in both urban areas and rural communities.” Through the Transportation Planning Rule and guidelines prepared by ODOT for preparation of local transportation sy stem plan s, local and regional governm ents are encouraged to improve planning coordination between public invest ments in highway s and other investm ents (both public and private) in the freight m ovem ent infrastructure. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), prepared for the Medford Urbanized Area by the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVMPO) and a dopted in 2002, establishes policy direction for facilitating freight m obility within the Medford UGB. The RTP encourages “Local governments … to take actions to promote access to all modes of trans portation for freight movements to serve the needs of residents and businesses in the RVMPO planning area. Lo cal actions include ensuring access to freight facilities via the local street system and actively supporti ng the freight transportation policies set forth in the Oregon Highway Plan …” (Policy 15-1). Supporting actions include identify ing roadway obstacles and barriers to efficient truck m ovem ent on state highway s, improving safety , encouraging the use of Intelligent Transportation Sy stem Com mercial Vehicle Operation technology , funding and im proving roadway s to accom modate freight m ovem ent, and other actions. Medford Transportatio n System Plan 6-1 Freight Plan