The FREIGHT Act is back

Senators Lautenberg (NJ), Murray (WA), and Cantwell (WA) have reintroduced the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation (FREIGHT) Act, which was originally introduced by Lautenberg during the 2010 session. As reported in ProgressiveRailroading.com, the act would create a new competitive merit-based grant program for freight infrastructure investments. Multimodal freight projects such as freight rail capacity expansions, port infrastructure investments, and highway projects that improve access to freight facilities would all be eligible for funding. In addition, the bill calls for the development of a National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan, a new Office of Freight Planning and Development, and seeks to speed the movement of goods through intermodal freight facilities and reduce the environmental impacts of freight transportation.