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38 7 CONCLUSION This second decade of the twenty-fi rst century will place even greater emphasis on global trade, technology, innovation, and competitiveness. These megaissues will strongly infl uence transportation strategies and decisions about system investments. These strategies and decisions, in turn, will require capacity building for state DOTs and MPOs and greater collaboration with the freight industry at every level. This includes collaboration on the types of freight planning research described in this stra- tegic plan and the accompanying SHRP 2 C20 technical research report. The long-term ability to effectively and effi ciently move goods will depend on the performance of public and private infrastructure, which is a key strategic asset to enterprises that ship and receive freight of all types in a fi ercely competitive business environment. Ironically, in this information age when the linkage between goods movement and information technology continues to expand, state DOTs and MPOs lack the kinds of data and analytic tools needed to effectively plan for freight transportation. The result is that public decision makers lack the information they need to effectively support freight-related transportation decision making. This research has established a road map to move freight tools and data innovation forward through ⢠Implementing sample research initiatives that support the seven key strategic ob- jectives; and ⢠Expanding the dialogue on freight analysis and data innovation through the GFRC, an ongoing international forum of key stakeholders comprising a publicâ privateâ academic collaboration to encourage innovative research to support decision-making needs.
39 FREIGHT DEMAND MODELING AND DATA IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN CONCLUSION By the end of this decade, a vision for improved freight modeling and data will be characterized as follows: ⢠A robust freight forecasting toolkit has been developed and is the standard for public sector freight transportation planning; ⢠Forecasting tools and data link dynamically with other key variables, such as devel- opment and land use, and their application to local scale, corridors, or regions is also dynamic; ⢠The challenges associated with the data necessary to support new planning tools have been addressed through a broad-based effort bringing together the varied resources of the public and private sectors; ⢠The knowledge and skills of state DOT and MPO staff have been methodically enhanced to complement the development of better tools and data; and ⢠Decision makers recognize that transportation investments are to a greater degree being informed by an understanding of the implications, benefits, and trade-offs relative to freight. These megaissues will strongly influence transportation strategies and decisions about system investments. These strategies and decisions, in turn, will require capacity building for state DOTs and MPOs and greater collaboration with the freight industry at every level.
