Understanding the Policy and Program Structure of National and International Freight Corridor Programsin the European Union

Growing global competition requires maximizing the efficiency of freight movement on the United States (U.S.) transportation network. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored a scanning study to learn how the European Union and various member states developed, evolved, and implemented freight transportation corridor programs on national and cross-jurisdictional levels. The scan team learned that European Union transportation policies focus on corridors and on connecting transport chains to and from neighboring countries and overseas, making freight transport more efficient and sustainable. It observed that a unifying vision linking transportation and the economy is a key element of the Trans-European Transport Network. Team recommendations for U.S. implementation include coordinating freight-planning efforts throughout North America, determining low-cost efforts to improve freight transportation, and using private-sector planning resources to aid public-sector planning,