FHWA Proposes Primary Freight Routes

The Federal Highway Administration this week identified the highway routes it proposes for inclusion in the Primary Freight Network (PFN).,The PFN was mandated in MAP-21, which directed the Transportation Secretary to designate up to 27,000 existing miles of interstate and other roadways, along with the possibility of 3,000 miles in the future, as part of the PFN. The expectation is that the PNF designation will encourage states to direct resources in a strategic manner to improve freight movement. FHWA's PFN proposal was based on several factors, including the origins and destinations of freight, shipment tonnage, population, and traffic volumes. While MAP-21 calls for a 27,000-mile system, the FHWA notice "identifies more than 41,000 miles of comprehensive, connected roadways that a FHWA analysis shows would be necessary to transporting goods efficiently on highways throughout the nation to make up the highway PFN." Additional information on the PFN is available here.