539E256AA1F6AB3787258A120070EB70 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION FROM FREIGHT PANEL ADVISORY COMMITTEEINTERIM COMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEEDate Aug 21, 2023 Location Old State Library Presentation from Freight Panel Advisory Committee - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/95A044A9557A...$File/AttachmentFCDOTFACUPDATED.pdf?OpenElement AttachmentFCDOTFACUPDATED.pdf http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/B0791A367AF7...$File/AttachmentGCMCAFreightPanelPresentation.pdf?OpenElement 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.