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South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization
South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization

Freight Planning

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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) emphasizes the importance of a transportation network that supports economic development, a priority consistently rated by South Jersey residents as one of their top priorities for the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). 

Therefore, a primary goal of SJTPO is to work toward a multimodal transportation network that contributes to the region’s economic development. To this end, SJTPO is working to better integrate freight considerations into its transportation planning process.

SJTPO Freight Planning Efforts

SJTPO participates in and leads several regional freight planning efforts. In recent years, SJTPO has completed the 2018 Port of Salem Corridor Freight Rail Intermodal Study and the 2022 Regional Freight Plan Data Collection and Analysis Study. These studies helped strengthen the development of the 2024 Regional Freight Plan, which aims to inform future studies and investments and improve the SJTPO region’s representation in statewide freight planning.

Statewide Freight Planning

SJTPO also participates in statewide freight planning efforts, including being a New Jersey Freight Advisory Committee member. Being a part of this committee entails contributing to the New Jersey Statewide Freight Plans. SJTPO also participates in statewide rail and marine highway planning efforts.

Contact Info

Jacob Cummings

Jacob Cummings

Program Manager – Safety Initiatives & Complete Streets

New Jersey Statewide Freight Plan 2023 Document Cover Page

2023 New Jersey Statewide Freight Plan

Freight Rail strategic plan
2014 New Jersey Statewide Freight Rail Strategic Plan
State Rail Plan

2012 New Jersey State Rail Plan

2018 Port of Salem Corridor Freight Rail Intermodal Study

This study focused on the Port of Salem, an important regional freight asset, and the network that connects it to businesses, warehouses, distribution centers, and the national network. The study reviewed road connections and identified issues impacting optimum intermodal access. The study produced a prioritized list of recommendations based on a combination of their estimated potential economic benefits, estimated costs, difficulty in implementation, and access to funding sources. The final report covers relevant conditions and activities impacting the corridor and identifies the current & recommended freight flow.
Port of Salem Corridor Freight Rail Intermodal Study

2022 SJTPO Freight Plan Data Collection and Analysis

Designed to be a precursor to the 2023 Regional Freight Plan, this study collected and analyzed freight data and conducted a data-driven performance-based analysis of the freight network. Data collected or generated included freight trip generators, truck counts, and estimated truck trips for road segments.

Freight highway network analysis included:

  • Travel speeds and all truck travel time reliability,
  • Origin and destination analysis by TAZs.

    Freight impediment analysis included:

    • Bridges for under clearance, load rating, and bridge condition,
    • Highway railroad crossing for train and truck trips per crossing,
    • Safety-created heat map for truck crashes,
    • Truck parking-identified parking locations and the number of parking spaces.

    Multimodal Analysis included:

    • Rail-track inventory, trains trips, and train speeds,
    • Air Cargo freight flow,
    • Maritime-port locations and commodity flow,
    • Last mile multimodal highway connections.

    The Final Report includes

    • Description of the SJTPO region’s freight landscape, and
    • Summary of stakeholder outreach.
    Regional Freight Plan Data Collection and Analysis Dataset
    Regional Freight Plan Data Collection and Analysis Study

    2024 SJTPO Regional Freight Plan

    While SJTPO actively participates in the statewide freight planning process, it also recognizes the need to focus on its region’s local freight network. The 2024 SJTPO Regional Freight Plan incorporates recent studies conducted by SJTPO and its subregional partners. The planning process involved outreach to planning partners, stakeholders, and the community. As a result, SJTPO identified key locations and issues, leading to a prioritized list of potential solutions, including projects, technologies, and policies. This document is a resource for enhancing the SJTPO multi-modal regional freight network.

    Regional Freight Plan
    Regional Freight Plan Executive Summary

    Freight Advisory Committee (FAC)

    Beginning in 2021, during the Regional Freight Plan Data Collection and Analysis technical study, SJTPO established the Freight Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC membership includes business and freight professionals from public and private sector, covering multiple freight modes and an economic development perspective. The committee provided stakeholder feedback throughout the data collection and analysis effort. The FAC members will be instrumental in informing the development of the Regional Freight Plan as well as moving forward as the Plan is implemented and as other freight issues are identified, studied, and addressed in the region. Currently, the FAC includes the following organizations. Anyone interested in participating in the FAC should contact Bill Schiavi at .

    Relevant Plans and Studies

    Relevant Freight Resources