539E256AA1F6AB3787258A120070EB70 Hearing Summary

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION FROM FREIGHT PANEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

INTERIM COMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Aug 21, 2023
Location Old State Library

Presentation from Freight Panel Advisory Committee - Committee Discussion Only

Attachment Tag

File Name

AttachmentFCDOTFACUPDATED.pdf

AttachmentGCMCAFreightPanelPresentation.pdf

01:08:01 PM

The committee came
back to order.

01:08:10 PM

Craig Hurst, Freight
Mobility and Safety Branch Manager representing the Colorado Department
of Transportation (CDOT), provided an update on the Colorado Freight Advisory
Council (Attachment F). Mr. Hurst said that the panel is a partnership
between the private sector and local planning partners that provides feedback
to the state and federal government on transportation legislation.

01:08:35 PM

Mr. Hurst talked
about how the panel supports initiatives and strategies to promote and
improve the safe movement of freight.

01:10:54 PM

Mr. Hurst indicated
that the executive committee for the council meets monthly. He said
that the steering committee only meets as needed, while the subcommittee
meets quarterly and reports back to council.

01:12:13 PM

Mr. Hurst provided
information about CDOT's freight program and freight mobility and safety,
established in January 2022 as a result of Senate Bill 21-160. He
said that the program combines the freight and operations plan and focuses
on four key areas, including operations, planning, partnerships, and investment.
He indicated that operations includes things like routes, parking,
emergencies, and permits.

01:15:38 PM

Mr. Hurst talked
about investments in freight through the National Highway Freight Program,
including $120 million total. He mentioned that the goal is to push
funding to all areas within Colorado.

01:18:08 PM

Mr. Hurst indicated
that one-third of Colorado's economy and one-fifth of Colorado's jobs are
tied to freight. He said that $341 billion dollars of products are
moved in and out of the state. He indicated that the dollar amount
of products and tonnage of products will most likely increase with continued
population increases.

01:19:06 PM

The history of freight
planning was discussed, including freight sector industry partnerships.
Mr. Hurst talked about the first commercial driver license (CDL)
apprenticeship program started virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that the program is now housed within state work force programs.
Mr. Hurst mentioned freight parking playbook which provides information
to local governments.

01:21:48 PM

Mr. Hurst talked
about the Colorado Freight Plan which is required by the federal government
every four years. He said that the plan is a strategic policy. Mr.
Hurst mentioned that a new plan is currently under development and will
be ready by the end of the year. The plan includes eight key areas:
safety, mobility, asset condition, climate and environment, risk and resiliency,
equity and inclusion, economy and community, and businesses and consumers.

01:23:32 PM

Mr. Hurst oultined
funding for the program through the national highway freight program for
more than 70 projects in all corners of the state, totaling $179 million.

01:24:09 PM

Mr. Hurst talked
about additional planning directives which cover four key areas, including
industry partnerships that help provide important information, safety education,
workforce development, and the Colorado Delivers program which helps the
public understand the products that trucks are moving.

01:25:09 PM

There was a discussion
about freight operations, including issuing permits. Mr. Hust indicated
over 300,000 permits have been issued each year for the last five years.
He said that a four person crew answers more than 12,500 calls and
3,000 chats per year. Mr. Hurst said that the program brings in $8.5
to $9 million in revenue each year and that some of the funds support bridge
and tunnel infrastructure.

01:26:34 PM

Mr. Hurst detailed
the types of cargo being shipped through the state that involve permits,
including 48 percent of freight for construction equipment and materials.
He said that the top five commodities being moved with permits from
2017 through 2022 include construction equipment, construction materials,
oil, field equipment, farm equipment, and wind energy.

01:27:06 PM

There was an in depth
discussion about oversized and overweight permits. Mr. Hurst said
that 40 percent of permits are for annual use for trucks that are operating
in the state every day. He indicated that the most utilized highway
section related to permits is Highway 287 to I-70 along the Oklahoma border
or the Ports to Plains Highway which is a federal freight route. Mr.
Hurst said that this section of highway sees a great deal of goods from
the Houston port. He talked about weaknesses in roadways from a freight
perspective, such as routes with low clearance. Mr. Hurst talked
about the distribution of weight on and the impact to roads by oversize
or overweight loads. Finally, he talked about the use of I-270 as
a major route for trucks which includes 30 percent of routed permits.

01:29:39 PM

Mr. Hurst talked
about communication related to freight. He mentioned the freight.colorado.gov
website as the best source of communication with truck drivers. Mr.
Hurst said that the site includes maps and education on truck safety. He
talked about a new safety campaign, the Mountain Rules, whose slogan is,
"slow, steady, and safe for the long haul". He mentioned
that 90 percent of runaway trucks are from out of state.

01:32:02 PM

Mr. Hurst discussed
more details about freight industry sector partnerships. He mentioned
the expansion of the CDL apprenticeship program, now with the Adams County
Workforce Development Center and expanding to centers statewide.

01:33:02 PM

Mr. Hurst talked
about additional key projects, including the repair of 41 timber bridges;
a P3-like partnership with Bennet at the Luv's truck stop on Highway 79
that created 114 parking spots for trucks along the I-70 corridor east
of Denver; a statewide weight in motion program at ports of entry
to enforce size and weight limits; repairs to a key weight restricted bridge
just north of the New Mexico-Colorado border that was forcing traffic onto
Highway 287; in cab communications to message drivers about issues while
they are still in other states; and 11 port-of-entry enforcement pull outs
for safety for sites that do not have a port of entry inspection location.

01:35:19 PM

Mr. Hurst provided
information about the variety of large objects that are moved throughout
the state, such as wind energy components, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) heat shields and crew capsules, bridge girders, manufactured
buildings, aggregates, beer fermenters, and electric transformers.

01:38:51 PM

There was a discussion
about the inclusion of truck drivers on the council. Mr. Hurst indicated
that the council works with partners, such as the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum
Marketers, the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, and the Denver Transportation
Club, to continue the involvement of drivers.

01:41:36 PM

Mr. Hurst answered
questions about recent driving laws, such as disabled vehicles and truck
speeding. He indicated that this is an ongoing issue and the program
works on safety and education, especially with drivers from out of state.
Mr. Hurst indicated that the council continues to work with partners,
such as the Colorado State Patrol. He talked about the new roundabout
law and the use of QR codes and YouTube videos which can be heard or viewed
in a number of languages to educate drivers.

01:46:04 PM

There was a discussion
about overscheduling drivers. Mr. Hurst indicated that the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration has jurisdiction over drive time and
scheduling and there are electronic logs. He mentioned that this
can affect a drive or business safety record.

01:49:47 PM

Greg Fulton, President
of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), provided a freight presentation
(Attachment G). Mr Fulton talked about traffic enforcement for trucks,
salaries, safety, and trucking businesses. He provided statistics
about the industry in Colorado, including that 79 percent of all Colorado
communities are served only by trucks for their freight needs. Mr.
Fulton talked about legislation passed in 2023, including traffic fines
for safety and speed and roundabouts.

02:02:41 PM

Mr. Fulton talked
about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the trucking industry. He
provided information about different types of emissions and strides made
since 1998 with new trucks. Mr. Fulton talked about the new California
advanced clean truck rule related to emissions. He talked about congestion,
roadway conditions, and bottlenecks as challenges to lower emissions. Mr.
Fulton mentioned the cost and weight of batteries for new vehicles, as
well as charging infrastructre for fleets.
Mr. Fulton
talked about CMCA priorities,including safety, reduced GHG emissions, especially
in economically disadvantaged areas, and truck parking.

02:14:13 PM

Mr. Fulton talked
about five effective strategies for diesel and GHG reductions in trucking,
including replacing trucks from 2009 and earlier; providing a grant program
for small companies to replace trucks; replacement of state fleets; compliance
with air quality rules; and incentives to reduce emissions.

02:14:52 PM

Mr. Fulton detailed
proposed legislation for the committee's consideration, including a higher
penalty for failure to have a commercial driver license.

Presentation from Freight Panel Advisory Committee - Committee Discussion Only

Colorado General Assembly