Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, has filed a bill to prioritize and fund freight rail, ports and multimodal infrastructure with grants.

Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, introduced the bill, S3629, on Thursday, July 22, calling it the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 – or the FREIGHT Act.

Joining Lautenberg as co-sponsors were Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-WA.

The bill would create the Office of Freight Planning and Development and would administer grant money to enhance freight-rail corridors, ports and multimodal infrastructure.

There’s little or no mention of trucking in the bill, despite the fact that trucks move approximately 70 percent of the nation’s freight.

OOIDA leadership is reviewing the legislation and considering the potential impacts on small-business trucking.

According to the bill’s authors, grants would be administered for port development; multimodal terminals; land ports of entry; freight rail improvements or expansion; intelligent transportation systems for freight to reduce congestion and improve safety; and enhancements to port or terminal access.

The proposal calls for a National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan to be in place within two years to guide investments and track progress.

– By David Tanner, associate editor
david_tanner@landlinemag.com