Georgia Begins Creation of Strategic Statewide Freight & Logistics Plan

ATLANTA, February 4, 2010 — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced today the selection of a consulting team lead by Cambridge Systematics to help create Georgia's first comprehensive, statewide freight & logistics plan. This team joins an already collaborative effort underway between the Department of Transportation, Governor Sonny Perdue's office, and the Department of Economic Development's Center of Innovation for Logistics. The need for this plan originated from the industry-driven and actionable recommendations made by the Commission for New Georgia's (CNG) Freight & Logistics Task Force.  The CNG task force made nine recommendations in all, many of which were associated with the need for a 'state action plan' focused on the topic of freight movement. This work was closely correlated with the funding strategies compiled through the IT3 or 'Investing in Tomorrow's Transportation Today' initiative. "This is yet another example of an issue the Commission for a New Georgia examined and for which it produced practical recommendations that will drive business-oriented decision-making in state government,' said Governor Perdue.  'The logistics industry is one of Georgia's most important economic engines and will continue to be a centerpiece for the state's continued growth in the coming decades if we make strategic investments in our transportation network.' This comprehensive plan will address Georgia's logistics needs through the year 2050, guiding the strategic execution of logistics activities and projects to improve the flow of goods into, within and out of the state. The plan will be developed over the next 12 months, and calls for guidance in development and resulting implementation by an external advisory committee with participation from a wide range of public and private industry experts. "Truck traffic, which carries 86 percent of all freight moved in Georgia, is growing at twice the rate of general car traffic. The increase in freight movement across all modes will further tax our transportation network, and a strategic approach is needed to guide thoughtful, well-planned transportation investments to accommodate freight growth and logistics needs statewide,' said Todd Long, Director of Planning for the Georgia Department of Transportation. Closely connected to the broader statewide transportation plan, also currently under development, Long explains that this new freight plan 'is the kind of policy level, industry-driven strategy we need to keep our competitive logistics edge all over Georgia.' "This new plan, while obviously important for infrastructure and transportation planning, will also serve as a unique economic development tool that we will use to help market Georgia, and attract and grow jobs and investment to our state.  We are very pleased to have our Center of Innovation for Logistics involved both in leading the CNG task-force and collaborating to help move the plan's creation forward.' said Commissioner Ken Stewart of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'This is an exciting time for the freight and logistics industry in Georgia. All the critical agencies and stakeholders will continue to work together to create a dynamic freight and logistics plan that is statewide, strategic, sustainable and, most importantly, actionable,' said Page Siplon, executive director of the Center of Innovation for Logistics. About GDOT: The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia's economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. Additional transportation revenues are imperative to grow and sustain Georgia's economic vitality and quality of life through the 21st Century.  Georgia is the 3rd fastest-growing state in the nation, yet 49th in per capita spending on transportation.  For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our Web site www.dot.ga.gov. About GDEcD: The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.   To learn more about The Center of Innovation for Logistics, the state's leading agency for fueling logistics competitiveness, visit www.georgialogistics.org. About CNG: The Commission for A New Georgia was established in 2003 by Governor Sonny Perdue to launch a management turnaround that would make Georgia the best-managed state in America.  The Commission is a private-sector council of top-level business and professional executives from all over Georgia. Their mission is to bring fresh eyes and ideas to ways state operations and services can function more efficiently and effectively and work better for citizens.  To learn more visit:  www.newgeorgia.org.