Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory Committees
States must develop comprehensive multiyear freight plans to receive funds through the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP). This requirement was established in 2015 by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) that funded transportation projects to address congestion and facilitate freight movements on interstates and other major roads. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires plans to be updated every four years instead of five. It adds new elements such as the impact of e-commerce on freight infrastructure, commercial port inventory, and environmental factors. The guidance also includes several recommendations for addressing President Biden’s environmental justice goals and suggests how to incorporate advisory committees in the plan development process. While the guidance acknowledges that these recommendations are non-binding, it repeatedly uses phrases like “strongly encouraged” to indicate that the Department of Transportation is prioritizing environmental justice and racial equity.
