Talking Freight

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Talking Freight
By Martin H. Weiss
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Economic Development and Freight

• ? Conceptual Relationship
• ? Examples
• ? Limits

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Economic Development and Freight
Conceptual Relationship Highway Improvement

• ? makes business more productive thus
• more business
• ? makes it easier for businesses to serve
• other businesses that are logistically
  related
• ? may help incipient businesses grow
• ? may allow businesses to access more
• potential employees or customers
• ? may result in travel business cluster

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Making Business More Productive
Highway Improvement
Before
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Examples
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Easier for Businesses to Serve Other Business
that are Logistically Related
Beef Plant near highway in Imperial County, CA
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Help Incipient Businesses Grow
Buffalo herd near Pine Ridge, South Dakota
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May Allow Businesses to Access More Potential
Employees or Customers
Museum Theatre Complex Jamestown, NY Near I-86
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May Result in Travel Business Cluster
Restaurants, Dance Clubs near SR-29 in Edgar, WI
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Economic Development and Freight
Limits
? Typically, highway improvement doesnt create
economic development unless something else
is happening ? Typically, economic
development doesnt happen quickly ?
Freight is usually an important part of the
picture but rarely the focus ?
Demographics/Events/Policies/ Culture can
inhibit economic development
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http//www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/econdev/index.htm
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Martin H. Weiss