Freight Planning

California's goods movement system is a complex, decentralized, and dynamic mixture of public and private infrastructure--one that involves private carriers and shippers, government planning authorities, state regulatory agencies, and nonprofit public interest groups interacting on global, national, regional, and local scales. 

Serving as major trade access gateway to the Pacific, California's supply chain systems, Port landside operations, and built infrastructure are all critical components to meeting the demands of the state's growing population and market size.  While goods movement activities build stable jobs and support the economy, freight movement carries numerous environmental quality and public health impacts including air, noise, and watershed pollution.  There are also traffic safety considerations that freight transportation planners must address.

Caltrans Office of Strategic Freight Planning (OSFP) develops strategies, policies, and methodologies that work to improve the freight transportation system in California.  This often involves contracted and in-house research studies that fulfill federal and state statutory requirements as outlined through Federal Transportation Re-authorization and Governor's Executive Orders.

Caltrans Office of Technical Freight and Project Integration (OTFPI) provides technical expertise for developing and implementing the Department’s priority freight projects and planning activities. This often involves freight data and performance management, freight project integration, zero-emission freight infrastructure, interregional freight planning management, and interagency freight coordination.