The 2022 Delaware Freight Plan has officially kicked off!
Purpose of the Freight Plan:
To examine the efficiency and reliability of the current and projected freight transportation network to optimize safety, connectivity, and economic competitiveness
Public Meetings
2022 Delmarva Freight Summit
The 2022 Delmarva Freight Summit was held virtually on Friday, June 10th, 2022 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The Summit featured:
- Discussion of the draft 2022 Delaware Freight Plan Update;
- A presentation on freight and port infrastructure funding opportunities by Amanda Rutherford, Gateway Director Mid-Atlantic with the Maritime Administration of USDOT (MARAD); and
- A keynote conversation on the trucking industry's short- and long-term operational challenges with Rachel Premack, FreightWaves editorial director, and Dr. Steve Viscelli, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Big Rig: Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream.
Summit Documents:
- Summit Agenda
- Summit Introductory Slides
- Delaware Freight Plan Update
- Maritime Administration (MARAD)
Summit Recording: Listen Here
Use the following links to jump to individual segments of the recording:
The freight plan update will:
- Meet all current federal freight planning guidelines
- Provide a complete overview of current freight trends in Delaware
- Utilize the latest supply chain/technology to further express the impact of freight in Delaware
- Identify policy needs and strategies to ensure the efficient movement of freight in Delaware
- Identify key freight projects and related investment plans (TIP/CTP) for a five-year forecast period
- Further develop and amplify collaborative efforts among freight stakeholders, as well as regional, state, and local partners
Freight Plan Key Elements
- Statewide Freight Goals, Objectives, Visions
- Existing Economic Context/Commodity Flows
- Existing Freight Transportation System
- Freight Trends, Needs Issues
- Freight Policy Guidance and Beyond
Freight Inventory and Trend Assessments
- Jason’s Law Truck Parking
- Delaware Portion of National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) – Primary Freight Network, CUFC/CRFC, Remaining MAP-21& FAST Act, NHS Routes
- Multimodal Networks
- Truck Parking Availability (designated/undesignated)
- Freight Industry and Supply Chain Insights/Delaware Supply Chain Analytics
- Freight Bottlenecks
Ongoing Freight Studies
- Truck Bottlenecks Identification (2022)
- Delaware Statewide Truck Parking Study (2021)
- Delaware First/Final Mile Freight Network Development (2021)
- Planning for Freight-Related Development Summary and Checklist (2021)
- Port of Wilmington Area Alternatives Study (2021)
- Dover Air Cargo Freight Access Study (2019)
- Harrington Multimodal Freight Terminal Feasibility Study (2021)
- Rail Freight Zoning Study (2018 & 2022)
- Development of a Truck Restrictions Database (2022-tentative)
- West Dover East/West Truck Study
Current Freight Conditions in Delaware
- View an updated inventory of Delaware's existing freight network with displays of traffic conditions, truck parking, truck bottleneck's, etc.
We Want to Hear From You
- Please give your freight related input on any areas in the state using this user-friendly map.
- Cooper Bowers - Transportation Planner – cooper.bowers@delaware.gov, (302) 760-2153
Delaware Freight
Our transportation system is not only used to move people from one place to another but also to ship the commodities that we need in our everyday lives. Trucks, ships, and rail lines are used to move goods to and from stores, factories, and other locations. This has a significant impact on our transportation system. The New Castle County region alone generates nearly 37 million tons of freight annually, making freight a largest contributor to the regions' economic success. What is equally important is that over 72 million tons pass through the region each year, adding significant traffic to our expressways and other major arterials.
Nationwide, freight has been growing at 2.5 percent to 3 percent per year and is forecasted to continue this growth through at least 2035. This leads to a near doubling of freight volumes every 20 years. This is faster than the growth rates for passenger vehicles, leading to a higher percentage of heavy trucks on the roadways. As the share of heavy trucks increases, concerns regarding congestion, safety, and air pollution prompt the need for system improvements.
