INTERMODAL ADVISORY TASK FORCE
February 7, 2002 Meeting Minutes

Tom Zapler, chair, Union Pacific Railway (UP)

Paul Nowick, BNSF Railway

Joe Alonzo, CDOT

Kim Hoeveler, Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)

John Reilly, TTX

Jim Johnson, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

Gordon Miller, Illinois Transportation Association (ITA), board member emeritus and consultant

Jim Miceli, Cushing Trucking

Megan Mack, Council of Mayors (for Beth McCluskey, West Central Municipal Conference)

Bill Wendt, citizen-at-large

Non-members in attendance:

Karen Romano, Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC)

Chris Wilson, Metra

Libby Ogard, Tioga Group

Ken Meuser, Union League Club

Jay Franke, Northwestern University Transportation Center

Steve Call, FHWA Metro Office

John Allen, RTA

Bruce Dahnke, Laser Express

George Krupa, PB Consultants

Terry Short, E&K Engineers

Brian Watt, Select Logistics

Sue McNeil, UIC

Farid Amirouche, UIC

Joe Solomon, UIC

Pedro Gonzales, UIC

David Zarowny, Patrick Engineering

Rob Hoffman World Business, Chicago

Lee Hutchins, ETP Ltd.

Bob Heuer, Journalist

Doug Schroeder, Douglas Schroeder Associates

CATS staff in attendance:

Don Kopec

Tom Palzer

Gerald Rawling

Dan Rice

Mark Thomas

Call To Order: 10:03 A.M.

Approval of Minutes:

Jim Johnson requested a correction to the minutes of the 12/12/01 meeting to show that he had been in attendance. Gordon Miller noted that Kathy Knight is with Satellite Trucking, which is not clear from the minutes. Subject to the requested changes, Jim Johnson moved for approval and Karyn Romano seconded; minutes were approved unanimously.

Meeting Purpose:

To receive an MPC presentation of the (draft ) Critical Cargo report

To receive reports from the Task force subcommittees

To review the status of the UWP and RTP processes and the Task Force's participation(s)

 

At the request of the chair, attendees introduced themselves. Points of note:

Tom Zapler announced that the Rochelle yard will be in service by Fall 2003 at a 350,000 annual lift volume; at build-out it will do 700,000. There will be no yard closings. Zapler will present formally at the next meeting.

Zapler also announced that Patrick Engineering is providing contract engineering services.

Jim Johnson reported that IDOT is checking the connectors databases against USDOT and will be completed by 2/15.

Steve Call noted that several other states appeared to be in the process of adding to their lists of eligible connectors.

Johnson reported on the Illinois Noise Abatement program - a 50% state to 50% local match program for noise abatement on state-owned, access-controlled highways.

Kim Hoeveler observed that CNT had a strong interest in addressing the matter of grade crossings as a regional issue

John Reilly, representing TTX, posited that the company has never been better positioned for a recovery than it is presently

Gordon Miller reported that TIP will become a subsidiary of GE Railcar.

Paul Nowicki observed on a report asked for by Senator Durbin's office on issues of the Chicago rail process, with the St. Charles Air Line as a sub-issue. The FRA and the STB are charged with preparing the report. The railroads and the FRA/STB are still scoping the project; much of the data exists at the STB in the form of regular traffic reporting by the railroads

Doug Schroeder reported that he is attempting to secure a position statement from the American Institute of Architects chapter board on the future integration of all regional airports.

David Zarowny reported that Patrick Engineering is working for the Union Pacific in Rochelle and for the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Karyn Romano introduced the draft version of MPC's Critical Cargo report, which is a joint production of a working group of the Business Leaders for Transportation (BLT), made up of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), Metropolis 2020 Project (M2020) and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (CCC).

The purpose is to create support for three capital improvement projects - grade separations, improved connectors and development of the EJ&E as a regional by-pass – plus to generate support for two planning initiatives: securing $20 million ($10 million per year) in Federal planning funds for two years of freight planning, and (consideration of) a Regional Freight Planning Authority.

Ms. Romano stated that MPC would introduce these concepts into the RTP process.

Paul Nowicki commented that the railroads are not yet in agreement that the EJ&E is the appropriate regional initiative

Tom Zapler added that the railroads (in the form of the Chicago Group) are also working with the City of Chicago on regional infrastructure and are moving toward a long-range capital plan. By way of elaboration, and responding to a probe from Ken Meuser, Nowicki added that there was coming about a shift in emphasis from the tactical (viaducts, crossings, signals, etc.) to the strategic (vision of future operations and regional operating efficiencies). Nowicki also reported a briefing for Illinois representatives was scheduled for March 4.

Tom Palzer asked if the MPC had included any reference to the separation of trucks (and he referenced the truck lane proposal of LA). Ms. Romano replied that it was not looked into. Gordon Miller asked about developments in Indiana. Steve Call and Gerald Rawling responded that there was no new development since the truck lane alternative in the MIS for the Borman had been rejected.

Brian Watt asked if there was data on the comparative cost of maintenance, road vs. rail. Zapler commented that he was sure nobody had the answer.

Rawling spoke about the background on the 17 miles of intermodal connectors as studied in the E&K project. He told Ms. Romano that the 17 miles were chosen more for their representativeness than on the basis that they might be the most in need of any improvement; he commented that this nuance might be something to accommodate in the Critical Cargo report.

Bob Heuer asked Ms. Romano about the political strategy, citing an anecdote of the gubernatorial candidate who, when asked for his position on regional freight congestion relief, answered, "I like high speed trains." Ms. Romano said the principal purpose was to continue to get the message out.

Subcommittee Reports

Sue McNeil reported that a Finance subcommittee meeting is scheduled for the end of February.

Libby Ogard reported that the p.r./p.i. brochure is now on 8x14 rather than 8x11 and that the target for a final is April. There will be a column or space block left open to recognize members (sponsors). To print 10,000 copies the committee needs 8 sponsors at $500 each. The sponsors would each receive 250 copies. Ms. Ogard stated that a marketing and distribution plan would avoid duplicate distribution and maximize "reach."

David Zarowny asked if there was a web site. Ms. Ogard said the Outreach subcommittee would like to advance to that task next, after the brochure.

John Reilly noted that there is no Task Force meeting notice on the CATS web site and observed that there is some work to be done on the site.

There was no report from the Planning Committee in the absence of Kazuya Kawamura.

RTP and UWP

Referring to the UWP process, Tom Zapler expressed the view that to date freight has not been given its due. Tom Palzer commented that UWP proposals are due by February 22 and that the CATS' freight proposal, which will be presented by the Operations Group (of which he is the Deputy) will have three elements, referring to (a) regional truck route analysis, (b) regional grade separation analysis, (c) continuation of staff support for the Task Force and general "behavioral" studies of the freight industry consistent with CATS' previous work. Palzer also noted that support, especially in the form of letters, from the Task Force members would be useful, even necessary.

Referring to the RTP process, Karyn Romano observed that an original deadline for presenting proposals had been March 7, but that date appeared to have been deferred. Ms. Romano then asked what was presently in the RTP. Gerald Rawling briefly described the approximately 7 1/2 pages of text and the two overarching objectives.

The Midwest Regional Transportation Center Conference

Sue McNeil handed out a flyer about the April Conference and noted that the venue is UIC but the MRTC is at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Other Business

Other business became an extension of matters that had come before the Task Force earlier.

Doug Schroeder asked what CATS does about inter-state cooperation in freight planning. Don Kopec referred to the GCM Corridor project as a model. Prompted by Kopec's remarks, Tom Zapler asked Gerald Rawling if he could arrange a presentation by a representative of the GCM Corridor.

Jay Franke (Northwestern University) discussed the NSF grant to the university under the "Partnerships for Innovation" program, and stated that the intent is to develop decision-support systems for intermodal operations.

Gerald Rawling referred to a working meeting at Northwestern the previous day, noting the data needs for models to run, which Jay Franke then discussed further and declared that interaction with/cooperation of the industry would be sought. Jim Miceli expressed interest.

Jim Miceli commented that the Chicago Intermodal Association plans to reprise its "Intermodal 101" course on June 4/5 of 2002.

Farid Amirouche (UIC Mechanical Engineering) referenced the convergence of Northwestern's project with the UIC's off-street dray project.

Joe Alonzo reported that the Reebie project has been delayed because the license to use the REMI model had expired; it needed to be renewed and transferred from the Department of Aviation to the Department of Transportation.

Adjournment: 11:55 A.M.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 20

Submitted By: Gerald Rawling