PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE FREIGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM

THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL PROVIDES THE RATIONALE AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOGRAPHICALLY DETAILED VISUAL DATABASE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE INTERMODAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS OF ISTEA. CURRENTLY, STATES AND METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO LIMITED AND INCONSISTENT FREIGHT INFORMATION RESOURCES WITH WHICH TO INTEGRATE INTO INTERMODAL PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS. THE PROPOSED PHASE I RESEARCH EFFORT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THE STUDY TEAM FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS AND USES OF THIS INFORMATION BY THE FREIGHT PLANNING COMMUNITY, AND THEN WOULD DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR ITS EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD OCCUR IN PHASE II.