East-West Gateway Council of Governments’ (EWG) freight planning program is designed to assure the full incorporation of freight into the transportation planning process. EWG achieves this through stakeholder engagement, research, and the treatment of freight in the Long-Range Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
St. Louis Regional Freight Study
In 2013, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), and the regional freight community, EWG completed an evaluation of St. Louis’ regional freight system. The St. Louis Regional Freight Study established the regional economic impact of the freight industry, the adequacy of existing infrastructure relative to existing and future demand, and opportunities for enhancing the St. Louis region’s role in the national and international freight movement system.
The intent of the Freight Study was to frame support for conclusions regarding the current status of freight movement through the St. Louis region, as well as the future ability of local freight infrastructure to sustain growth in jobs and economic opportunity for the region in rapidly changing domestic and global economies.
Through recommendations of this study, the St. Louis Regional Freightway was formed out of East-West Gateway Board action and in 2014, Freightway operations were housed at the Bi-State Development Agency. The Freightway works with a large group of multi-modal representatives, regional public and private stakeholders, and government and corporate leaders. One of the activities The Freightway engages in is the development of a priority list of freight-related infrastructure projects for the St. Louis
Region.
Other Freight Planning Efforts
In 2022 MoDOT completed an updated freight study, the MoDOT State Freight and Rail Plan, along with several supplemental documents. IDOT is in the process of updating its freight plan that is set to be released in the Spring of 2023.
Regional Freight Facilities
Partners & Initiatives
Many entities work together on freight initiatives in the St. Louis region, including:
- St. Louis Regional Freightway
- Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council
- Missouri Department of Transportation (modot.org)
- Illinois State Freight Advisory Council
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Greater St. Louis, Inc.
- St. Louis Development Corporation
- St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
Data Resources
The Freight Analysis Framework provides data on freight movement among states and major metropolitan areas.
The Where We Stand series produced by East-West Gateway has provided comparisons of the St. Louis region with other large metropolitan areas and offers insight into freight data and movement.
The Transportation Research Board undertakes many freight transportation related program and activities.