Short Cuts

• FTAC Bylaws (PDF)
• FTAC Meeting Calendar
• FTAC Resolutions
• HRTPO freight efforts

Mission Statement:

The Mission of The Freight Technical Advisory Committee of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization is to advocate on behalf of the systematic needs for the transport and movement of freight in the region. The committee will act as an advocate for freight issues and bring awareness of those issues to the public, key stakeholders and policy makers.

Background:

In 2009, the HRTPO Board created the Freight Transportation Advisory Committee (FTAC) to provide an opportunity for the freight industry to participate in and contribute to the regional transportation planning process.  According to HRTPO bylaws, “The FTAC will conduct public outreach activities that help TPO efforts to explain and help raise awareness of the importance of freight transportation to the region and to collect region-wide public input on these matters.”  Key freight business and community leaders in Hampton Roads have recognized that efficient freight transportation is a key factor in statewide and metropolitan economic competitiveness and have willingly served on FTAC since its establishment.

Accomplishments:

• FTAC produced a video presenting the importance of freight, “A Region United” (2011).
• FTAC co-sponsored the Virginia Freight Transportation Summit (2011).
• Provided input and technical guidance to HRTPO staff for planning efforts such as the Regional Freight Study and other freight-related studies. (2011-2015)
• FTAC passed a resolution that “endorses the freight provisions of MAP-21” (2012).
• FTAC submitted comments on “Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and Advisory Committees” to FHWA (2012).
• FTAC co-hosted (with Virginia Port Authority [VPA] and the Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment [OIPI]) a Virginia Freight Roundtable Breakfast and a Freight Panel at the 2012 Governors Transportation Conference in Tysons Corner. (2012).
• FTAC added comments to HRTPO staff’s comments on FHWA’s Primary Freight Network (PFN) (2014).
• FTAC passed a resolution supporting a future Interstate designation for the Hampton Roads to Raleigh Highway Corridor (2014).
• FTAC provided LRTP assistance:
• FTAC staff identified 21 freight projects among the 2040 LRTP candidate projects (2014).
• FTAC provided comments to the HRTPO staff concerning the FTAC-identified freight projects.  HRTPO staff response to these comments resulted in the Hampton Blvd/Terminal Blvd project’s Prioritization Tool score rising from the third highest to the highest in the list of five 2040 LRTP Intermodal Transportation Candidate Projects (2015).
• Art Moye, FTAC Co-Chair, sent HRTPO staff a letter on February 2, 2015, identifying “top six projects to be considered for inclusion in the 2040 LRTP” (2015)

• Requested and assisted with the study – “Economic Assessment of Tolls on Freight Transportation in the Hampton Roads Region” (2015).
• FTAC prepared a resolution to the HRTPO Board for the Hampton Roads Crossing Study (HRCS) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) (2016).
• FTAC worked with HRTPO staff and Virginia Port Authority staff to provide input and guidance for the Hampton Roads Regional Freight Study: 2017 Update (2016-2017)
• FTAC assisted HRTPO staff with the 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan, including endorsing a list of candidate projects to be analyzed as part of the Project Prioritization Process (2016-2021)
• FTAC provided input and revisions to FTAC bylaws (2019-2020)
• FTAC provided input on regional truck zones for the 2050 LRTP.
• FTAC requested and assisted with the Hampton Roads Rail Crossing Study (2022-2023).

FTAC Membership:

The FTAC consists of nine members, largely from private industry, and the Chair of the FTAC serves as a non-voting member of the HRTPO Board.  HRTPO staff primarily handles the administration of FTAC, and staff from the Virginia Port Authority works in partnership with the HRTPO to advise and support the administration of the Committee.

Robert Eveleigh,
Port City Transportation
Chair and Non-Voting Member of the HRTPO Board

David White,
Virginia Maritime Association
Vice-Chair

Rick Morris,
Canon Virginia, Inc.

Mike Abbott,
Hapag-Lloyd (America) LLC

Kathleen Alexander,
Newport News Shipbuilding

Cannon Moss,
Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad

Pat Molloy,
Colliers International, Norfolk

Chad Gregg,
Givens Transportation

Mark Lamb,
Superior Air Freight 

VPA Staff Liaisons

Barbara Nelson

HRTPO Staff Liaisons

Pavithra Parthasarathi
Keith Nichols
Sam Belfield
Theresa Brooks

 List Updated: 11/02/2023