TRANSPORTATION
The transportation working group focuses on the infrastructure of our major corridors and gateways, with a special interest on border infrastructure. It is currently working to improve the Northwest Rail System through the Stimulus Package and examining future transportation investments.
Oil By Rail
Since 2012, the transportation of crude oil by freight rail has been rapidly increasing in Washington and other states in the Pacific Northwest. The spate of recent derailments in Canada and the U.S. has led to new regulations in oil train operations and tank car construction, along with an increased local desire for transparency and accountability in regards to oil train routing and scheduling. In order to address these issues, the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience has begun to explore oil freight rail transportation and safety as part of its Program Areas.
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) and the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) hosted an Oil Train Safety Symposium at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, Washington on April 27, 2016. The Transportation Working Group, co-chaired by Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho, and Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center for Regional Development, has addressed oil by rail concerns at recent PNWER meetings.
This symposium provided a comprehensive overview of the current and future status of oil by rail transportation and emphasize partnerships to help ensure oil transport safety is being addressed across the region. By fostering dialogue between public and private sector entities, PNWER and CRDR hope to increase mutual understanding of oil train safety issues in a broad and holistic manner by including stakeholders from all parts of the supply chain both in the U.S. and Canada. The Symposium agenda is still under development; topics will include an overview of the transportation of hazardous material by rail, the driving factors behind the rise of oil transportation by rail, potential safety hazards, incident response, and planning for future movement of other fuel products.
Event report, presentations and oil safety news here
Since 2012, the transportation of crude oil by freight rail has been rapidly increasing in Washington and other states in the Pacific Northwest. The spate of recent derailments in Canada and the U.S. has led to new regulations in oil train operations and tank car construction, along with an increased local desire for transparency and accountability in regards to oil train routing and scheduling. In order to address these issues, the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience has begun to explore oil freight rail transportation and safety as part of its Program Areas.
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) and the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) hosted an Oil Train Safety Symposium at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, Washington on April 27, 2016. The Transportation Working Group, co-chaired by Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho, and Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center for Regional Development, has addressed oil by rail concerns at recent PNWER meetings.
This symposium provided a comprehensive overview of the current and future status of oil by rail transportation and emphasize partnerships to help ensure oil transport safety is being addressed across the region. By fostering dialogue between public and private sector entities, PNWER and CRDR hope to increase mutual understanding of oil train safety issues in a broad and holistic manner by including stakeholders from all parts of the supply chain both in the U.S. and Canada. The Symposium agenda is still under development; topics will include an overview of the transportation of hazardous material by rail, the driving factors behind the rise of oil transportation by rail, potential safety hazards, incident response, and planning for future movement of other fuel products.
Event report, presentations and oil safety news here
Innovative Infrastructure Finance
Traditional funding mechanisms for large-scale infrastructure and transportation projects have been challenged in recent years, encouraging states/provinces and regional jurisdictions to find innovative strategies to fund projects. Partnering with private funding sources has found success in Canada and select U.S. states, but a lack of regulation harmonization and disparate financing laws between PNWER U.S. member states presents challenges in coordinating infrastructure and transportation planning efforts.
A PNWER-based Innovative Infrastructure Finance task force can play an important role in sharing best practices for public-private infrastructure financing and the public benefits of utilizing new models of infrastructure finance.
More information here
Traditional funding mechanisms for large-scale infrastructure and transportation projects have been challenged in recent years, encouraging states/provinces and regional jurisdictions to find innovative strategies to fund projects. Partnering with private funding sources has found success in Canada and select U.S. states, but a lack of regulation harmonization and disparate financing laws between PNWER U.S. member states presents challenges in coordinating infrastructure and transportation planning efforts.
A PNWER-based Innovative Infrastructure Finance task force can play an important role in sharing best practices for public-private infrastructure financing and the public benefits of utilizing new models of infrastructure finance.
More information here
2016 PNWer Economic Leadership forum - Boise, Idaho
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Each winter, business leaders, legislators and government leaders from PNWER's ten states, provinces, and territories, gather to address the major policy issues impacting the region.
The 2016 Economic Leadership Forum, Nov. 16-19 featured nine sessions focusing on some of the most pressing economic issues surrounding energy, tourism, agriculture, invasive species and more. The full meeting agenda, speaker bios, presentations, working group session notes, and media link is available here. 2016-2017 Action Items
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Transportation Working Group Session
Welcome from Transportation Working Group Co-Chairs Brief overview on working group and past projects Introduce Port Vancouver B.C.: Building a Trade Gateway in an Urban Area Tour. - Sen. Chuck Winder , Idaho - Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Idaho as a Crossroads State - Scott Stokes, Chief Deputy, IDT
Looking ahead to 2017: Public-Private Partnerhips nationally and regionally - Leslie Blakey, President, Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors
Market Access - Dave Doeringsfeld, Port Manager, Port of Lewiston Challenges Faced by Idaho’s Inland Port
Supply Chain Leadership - Barb Ivanov, Chief Operating Officer, Supply Cnain Transportation & Logistics Center (SCTL) at the University of Washington The Urban Freight Lab at the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center (SCTL) at the University of Washington works to improve the management of both public and private operations of urban goods delivery systems. Rail Safety - Bruce Agnew, Cascadia
Pacific Railroad
Moderated by Stephanie Bowman, Commissioner, Port of Seattle Conclusion: Next Steps - Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho and Bruce Agnew, Cascadia |
News
Leadership
- Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center; co-chair
- Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho, co-chair
- Jennifer Grosman, PNWER
Contact
jennifer.grosman@pnwer.org
(206) 443-7723
