The Ports-to-Plains Alliance is a non-profit advocacy group representing a 9-state, 2,300+ mile transportation corridor between Texas and Canada. It seeks to upgrade and modernize existing 2-lane highways that are inadequate for current and future needs. Improving the transportation network would boost safety, efficiency, energy development, and economic growth in America's agricultural and energy heartland. However, long-term funding is needed to address the Highway Trust Fund shortfall and preserve the national surface transportation system.
Comments on Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Advisory Commit...Ports-To-Plains Blog
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requested comments related to the interim guidance on state freight plans and state advisory committees. In response to the Notice, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance respectfully submitted these comments.
Comments on Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Advisory Commit...Ports-To-Plains Blog
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requested comments related to the interim guidance on state freight plans and state advisory committees. In response to the Notice, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance respectfully submitted these comments.
Failure to Act: The economic impact of current Investment Trends in surface ...Ports-To-Plains Blog
This report seeks to provide an objective analysis of the economic implications of the United States’ continued underinvestment in infrastructure. The Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, published every four years by the American Society of Civil Engineers, grades the current state of 15 national infrastructure categories on a scale from A through D for gradations of excellent to poor, and F for failing. This report answers the question “So what?” In terms of economic performance, what does a D mean? What does an F mean?
Howdy Partners!: Updates from Ports-to-Plains Alliance PartnersAlan Hyland, Chairman of the Palliser Economic Partnership (P.E.P.), Councillor Town of Bow Island
Reach for the Sky!: Funding Opportunities – Programs, grants, innovative fund...Ports-To-Plains Blog
Reach for the Sky!: Funding Opportunities – Programs, grants, innovative funding options
Elena Quintanilla, Director of Regional Services, South Plains Association of Governments
Failure to Act: The economic impact of current Investment Trends in surface ...Ports-To-Plains Blog
This report seeks to provide an objective analysis of the economic implications of the United States’ continued underinvestment in infrastructure. The Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, published every four years by the American Society of Civil Engineers, grades the current state of 15 national infrastructure categories on a scale from A through D for gradations of excellent to poor, and F for failing. This report answers the question “So what?” In terms of economic performance, what does a D mean? What does an F mean?
Howdy Partners!: Updates from Ports-to-Plains Alliance PartnersAlan Hyland, Chairman of the Palliser Economic Partnership (P.E.P.), Councillor Town of Bow Island
Reach for the Sky!: Funding Opportunities – Programs, grants, innovative fund...Ports-To-Plains Blog
Reach for the Sky!: Funding Opportunities – Programs, grants, innovative funding options
Elena Quintanilla, Director of Regional Services, South Plains Association of Governments
Ports-to-Plains Energy Summit
Omni Interlocken Resort
Broomfield, CO
April 7, 2011
Lunch Keynote
John Felmy, Chief Economist, American Petroleum Institute
The international trade data comes from Bureau of Transportation Statistics North American Transborder Freight Data (http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_QA.html). domestic data is from the Freight Analysis Framework by Center for Transportation Analysis in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under funding from the Federal Highway Administration (http://faf.ornl.gov/fafweb/Extraction2.aspx).
Federal Legislative Recommendations of the Ports‐to‐Plains AlliancePorts-To-Plains Blog
These existing highways are inadequate to meet current and future needs of the region and the nation. To promote economic security and prosperity throughout America's energy and agricultural heartland, these high priority corridors must be upgraded and modernized.
Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 2012 Budget HighlightsPorts-To-Plains Blog
The President’s FY 2012 budget request includes a total of $129 billion for the
Department of Transportation. A key element of this request is the inclusion of a $556 billion six-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal to improve the
Country’s highways, transit, and rail infrastructure and to ensure that these systems
are safe.
Presented August 4, 2010 to the North Dakota Interim Pubic Safety and Transportation Committee by Cal Klewin, Executie Director of TRE and Joe Kiely, VP, Ports-to-Plains Alliance
The Hydrogen Super Highway elevated rail system proposal for the West Cost of the United States.
Tri-State proposal for California, Oregon and Washington on I5.
Sustainable Development at the highest level of infrastructure development. Also known as the Motor City Maglev, because we take Transportation and Safety to a Higher Level.
Nov. 2013: Letter to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) expressing support for FY 2014 budget resolution that fully funds MAP-21 and the Airport Improvement Program, and advocating a long-term solution for the Highway Trust Fund.
Transportation is a pervasive and very important pa.pdffashionscollect
Transportation is a pervasive and very important part of all developed economies and
is a key ingredient for underdeveloped countries to progress to economic development and
independence.
• The history of the United States is replete with evidence of the close correlation of
advances in transportation technology with our advancing economic development from the Erie
Canal to our modern highways and air systems.
• Transportation systems are the lifelines of cities and the surrounding suburbs. Tons of
products are moved into cities every day to promote the health and welfare of its citizens. Also,
products which are produced in the cities are moved out for shipment elsewhere.
• Transportation contributes to the value of goods by providing time and place utility.
That is, effective and efficient transportation moves products to points where there is a demand
for the product and at a time when it is needed.
• Geographic and labor specialization are important cornerstones of industrialized countries and
transportation provides one of the necessary ingredients for this to occur.
• The more efficient the transportation system, the greater the possibility of scale
economies and increased market areas.
• Improved transportation in an area will usually increase land values because of the
improved accessibility to raw materials and markets.
• The flow and patterns for commerce influence transportation infrastructure patterns of
developing countries.
• Transportation expenditures for freight and passengers are an important part of the
gross domestic product in the United States.
• While transportation provides many benefits, it can also contribute to environmental
problems including pollution, poor air quality, acid rain, and global climate changes.
QUESTIONS
1. There is much discussion on the local, state, and federal levels about the need to repair and
improve the Interstate Highway System. Provide a rationale for this need.
2. “Transportation is the most important economic factor for economic development.” Do you
agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not?
3. The opening of the Erie Canal and the building of the transcontinental railroads in the 19th
century were described as significant milestones for the economic development in the United
States. Explain their importance individually and collectively.
4. The highways and other transportation networks that serve major metropolitan areas are
frequently described as the lifelines of the metropolitan area. Do you agree with this statement?
Why or why not?
5. Compare and contrast time and place utility, and explain how they contribute to the value of
products. What is the importance of time and place utility in our global economy?
Solution
1. The discussion on repair and improve federal highways is very much evident from increasing
transportation costs in US and detoriating condition of traffic in the country. US government
need to understand that improving transporation would not only releave .
Presentation by Joe Kiely, Vice President of Operations at Ports-to-Plains Alliance at Northern Ports-to-Plains Work Group Meeting in Wainwright, AB on June 21, 2013
Energy Development Impact on Transportation Infrastructure presented by TxDOT at Ports-to-Plains Alliance Annual Meeting in Washington DC on April 26, 2013.
Wind Energy's Future and the Impact on U.S. Manufacturing presentation at Ports-to-Plains Alliance Energy Conference in Washington DC on April 26, 2013.
Fuels Policy, Ethanol and RFS Reform Political and Policy Implications on Gas...Ports-To-Plains Blog
Fuels Policy, Ethanol and RFS Reform
Political and Policy Implications on Gasoline Prices.
Presented at Ports-to-Plains Alliance Energy Conference, Washington Dc on April 26, 2013
Dear Governor Heineman:
Thank you for approving the new route for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The project will allow America to gain independence from Middle East and Venezuelan oil by increasing supplies from our loyal, stable and secure ally in Canada. It will also be a major economic development booster for our country and region, not only in the construction of the pipeline, but in further development of Alberta’s oil resources. For every two Canadian jobs created by the oil sands, a third is created in the US. Alberta oil sands development is projected to generate more than $500 billion in US economic impact over the next 25 years.
Letter supporting the Findings of nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for the Keystone XL Pipeline Evaluation by 125 elected officials and community leaders in the Ports-to-Plains region.
Jack Schenendorf, Ports-to-Plains Alliance Transportation Consultant, in Washington will address the following topics:
The 2012 elections, the politics of 113th Congress, and the new leaders handling transportation.
Fiscal cliff: how bad is it and what is likely to happen?
Transportation's fiscal cliff: what are we going to do about it?
MAP-21 implementation and reauthorization in 113th Congress.
Jack Schenendorf’s practice concentrates on transportation and legislation with a particular focus on legislative strategy, legislative procedure, and the federal budget process. For nearly 25 years, Mr. Schenendorf served on the staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was Chief of Staff from 1995 to 2001.
Jack represents the Ports-to-Plains Alliance in Washington, DC. In addition he has represented Associated General Contractors, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Association of Equipment Manufactures, United Airlines and others
Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory CommitteesPorts-To-Plains Blog
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory Committees
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Notices
Statement on TBD Colorado Recommendations on Transportation
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Northern Working Group Strategic Plan October 2012Ports-To-Plains Blog
Members of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance, organizations and individuals from North Dakota, Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan met in Regina on October 10 and 11, 2012 to develop a northern plan to enhance the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
The international trade data comes from Bureau of Transportation Statistics North American Transborder Freight Data (http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_QA.html). domestic data is from the Freight Analysis Framework by Center for Transportation Analysis in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under funding from the Federal Highway Administration (http://faf.ornl.gov/fafweb/Extraction2.aspx).
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Open Road. Big Opportunity. Rural to Rural Project
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Imaginative Enterprise-Business-from Ports-to-Plains
What are the innovative companies who are making a positive impact on our region and the world? Hear from some of the cutting edge entrepreneurs who are creating jobs in innovative ways.
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Imaginative Enterprise-Business-from Ports-to-Plains
What are the innovative companies who are making a positive impact on our region and the world? Hear from some of the cutting edge entrepreneurs who are creating jobs in innovative ways.
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Imaginative Enterprise-Business-from Ports-to-Plains
What are the innovative companies who are making a positive impact on our region and the world? Hear from some of the cutting edge entrepreneurs who are creating jobs in innovative ways.
2. INTRODUCTION
The Ports-to-Plains Alliance is a non-profit, non-partisan, community-driven advocacy group led by
mayors, councilpersons, economic development officials, business and other opinion leaders from a
nine-state, 2300-plus mile transportation and economic development corridor between Texas and
Alberta, Canada.
Today, we collaborate with our federal and state leaders, partners in Canada and Mexico, and industry
partners, to deliver the infrastructure, food and fuel to secure the quality of life of America's great
cities. At the same time, we embrace America's new energy economy, and are capitalizing upon oil,
gas, wind power, biofuels and other innovation sectors to renew one of America's greatest legacies,
the rural heartland.
The north-south movement of goods and persons through this region relies on an existing network of
mostly two-lane highways which have been designated by federal law as National Highway System
High Priority Corridors: the Ports-to-Plains Corridor (#38), the Heartland Expressway (#14), and the
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway (#58).
These existing highways are inadequate to meet current and future needs of the region and the
nation. To promote economic security and prosperity throughout America's energy and agricultural
heartland, these high priority corridors must be upgraded and modernized.
An improved transportation network will produce significant benefits:
• It will improve safety, cutting accidents by 50 percent from today’s levels.
• It will increase the efficiency of agricultural freight flow. Our corridor runs through six of the
top ten farm states that produce nearly a quarter of all U.S. agriculture products.
• It is necessary for the development of the traditional energy resources essential to our nation’s
energy security. We serve eight of the top ten oil producing states. The corridor also goes
through five of the top six natural gas producing states. A single oil well requires an estimated
1,200 truck movements to develop.
• It is essential to developing the growing renewable energy industry. We serve nine of the top
ten states for wind energy potential, and five of the top twelve installed wind generation states.
A single wind tower requires eight trucks for major parts, not including the crane, concrete or
rebar. One planned wind farm in West Texas would install more than 2,600 towers, and put
more than 21,000 trucks and 42,000 pilot cars on the highways in and out of the site.
• It is a cost-efficient way to take pressure off of highly-congested parallel corridors, such as the I-
35 corridor.
• It will promote economic development in a region of the country that has the highest rate of
population loss over the last decade and ensure that America’s heartland and its communities
are connected to America by a modern, efficient and safe transportation facility.
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3. A STRONG FEDERAL ROLE
The Ports-to-Plains Alliance supports modernizing our Nation’s surface transportation network,
including the upgrading of multi-state rural highway corridors, to meet the challenges of the 21st
century.
Given the urgency and magnitude of this undertaking, it is imperative that the Federal Government be
the strong partner that it has been in the past. From the First Congress' support of lighthouses, buoys
and public piers to make navigation "easy and safe;" to Henry Clay's support for internal
improvements; to President Lincoln's support for the transcontinental railroad; to President Teddy
Roosevelt's support of the Panama Canal; to President Franklin Roosevelt's support for a cross-country,
high-level road system; to President Eisenhower's support of the Interstate Highway System and the
Federal Highway Trust Fund; and to President Reagan's support for increased motor fuel user fees to
preserve and modernize the Federal-aid highway network; the Federal Government has been
instrumental in the development of our Nation's surface transportation system. This system unifies
our country by providing for the easy movement of people and goods. Without it, "we would be a
mere alliance of many separate parts," as President Eisenhower noted. The Federal Government must
provide the leadership and resources to help preserve and modernize the national network for the
21st century.
In order to accomplish these goals, we support a robust federal surface transportation program.
Recognizing that preserving and upgrading our national transportation infrastructure will be costly, we
support significantly increased transportation investment and continued user financing through a
dedicated trust fund.
Picture sequence above is a wind turbine blade being transported around the courthouse in Boise City, Oklahoma
3
4. MAP-21
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) (Public
Law 112-141) was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012,
after passing both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan
support. It funds surface transportation programs at over $105 billion
for FYs 2013 and 2014, MAP-21 and is the first long-term highway
authorization enacted since 2005.
Importantly, the new law makes significant policy changes in the
framework for transportation investment. For example,
• It streamlines Federal transportation programs, establishing four core highway programs and
consolidating or eliminating over 2/3’s of the programs from SAFETEA-LU.
• It eliminates all earmarks and most discretionary grant programs.
• It guarantees states a 95 percent minimum rate-of-return.
• It improves transportation investment decision-making through performance-based planning
and programming.
• It accelerates project delivery and promotes innovation.
• It contains a number of provisions designed to enhance freight movement in support of
national goals.
• It expands innovative financing opportunities, including a significant expansion of the TIFIA
program.
The cumulative impact of these reforms are intended to give states greater flexibility to address
priority needs on the national surface transportation network and allow them to deliver projects more
efficiently and more quickly. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance supports aggressive congressional oversight
to ensure that the Administration implements MAP-21 in accordance with congressional intent and
that increased state flexibility does not undermine investment in the national surface transportation
network, especially multi-state rural corridors.
4
5. TRANSPORTATION’S FUNDING SHORTFALL
While MAP-21 addressed significant transportation policy issues, it did not address the long-term
financial problems of the Federal Highway Trust Fund. MAP-21 maintained existing transportation
investment levels. Funding in each of FYs 2013 and 2014 was set at a level slightly above the FY 2012
level, but slightly below the SAFETEA-LU funding level that was in place in FYs 2009 through 2011.
The Highway Trust Fund could not, however, support these funding levels. To cover the short-term
shortfall in the Trust Fund, Congress transferred about $21.2 billion into it. This temporary fix was
necessary to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through the end of FY 2014. To insure no increase
in the deficit, Congress offset the transfers, mostly through pension funding stabilization.
With MAP-21 expiring on September 30, 2014, the 113th Congress will not only face the need to
reauthorize the Federal surface transportation programs, but it will also face the looming Highway
Trust Fund deficit. As the AASHTO chart below shows, the Highway Trust Fund is projected to run a
significant deficit starting in 2015.
The challenge will be to develop a long-term fix for the Trust Fund that provides a stable, adequate
revenue stream sufficient to facilitate the modern, efficient, and safe national surface transportation
system that America needs. In Roll Call, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman
Bill Shuster described the challenge as follows:
With the Highway Trust Fund facing its own version of a fiscal cliff in the coming years, we must find a
way to pay for transportation improvements without borrowing from our children. We cannot borrow
our way to a better future. We must work together, listen to all ideas and opinions, and build a
consensus on what is best for America and our future prosperity.
The Ports-to-Plains Alliance agrees. Forging a consensus on a long-term solution is critical.
5
6. • Through partners, we are three Congressionally-designated, north-south High Priority Corridors,
comprising 2,333 miles of highway, 14.8% of total U.S. GDP ($2.2 trillion), and 43.8 million citizens
• A major U.S. trading region generating $259.4 billion in trade with Canada and Mexico, more than
24.5% of total U.S.-North America trade
• Top 6 nationwide, 8 of the top 10 U.S. states for wind energy generation and generating over
6,000 MW, nearly 77.8% of the U.S. total
• 7 of top 10 and 8 of the top 15 oil producing states
• Alberta ranks third, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in terms of proven global crude oil reserves.
• 5 of the top 6 and 6 of top 10 natural gas producing states
• 27.6% of U.S. ethanol refining capacity
• North America’s agricultural heartland, producing $23 billion of agricultural goods, or 19.5% of the
U.S. total; 4 of the top 8 farm states; Canada and Mexico are the top two export markets for U.S.
farm products
• Accidents will be significantly reduced on current two-lane segments of the corridor when they
are upgraded to four-lane-divided highway. Rural roads are dangerous and improving them saves
lives. Each year, more than 42,000 Americans are killed and nearly 3 million are injured on our
nation’s roadways. The total economic cost of these crashes exceeds $230 billion annually.
Unfortunately, nearly 60 percent of highway fatalities typically occur on two-lane rural roads.
When adjusted for vehicle miles traveled, according to the GAO, some rural roads have a fatality
rate over six times greater than urban interstates. These facts are extremely troubling since only 40
percent of all vehicle miles are traveled on two-lane rural roads.
6
7. PORTS-TO-PLAINS CORRIDOR NOT JUST A HIGHWAY
Ports-to-Plains: North America’s Energy Corridor
Top 6 Nationwide, 8 of the Top America’s Top Oil and Gas
10 U.S. States for wind energy States
generation Source:
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Primary Pipeline Corridor America’s Agricultural
for North America’s Oil Heartland
Percent Population Change Source:
Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
PennWell MapSearch 2000-2009
Source:
U.S. Census Bureau
8. MISSION STATEMENT
Ports-to-Plains is a grassroots alliance of communities and businesses whose mission
is to advocate for a robust transportation infrastructure to promote economic security
and prosperity throughout North America's energy and agricultural heartland.
PORTS-TO-PLAINS ALLIANCE STAFF
Michael Reeves Jacque Daly
President Executive Assistant
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Ports-to-Plains Alliance
Ph: 806-775-2338 Ph: 806-775-3369
michael.reeves@portstoplains.com jacque.daly@portstoplains.com
Joe Kiely Cal Klewin
Vice President of Operations Executive Director
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Ph: 303-586-1787 Ph: 701-523-6171
joe.kiely@portstoplains.com cal@trexpressway.com
Duffy Hinkle Marlin Johnson
Vice President of Membership & Marketing Communications Director
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Heartland Expressway Association
Ph: 806-755-3373 Ph: 307-331-9313
duffy.hinkle@portstoplains.com mjohnson@scottsbluff.org
ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS
5401 N MLK Blvd. #395
Lubbock TX 79403
Ph: 806-775-3373
www.portstoplains.com