Transportation
With a heritage in the transportation industry, the Heartland region has the potential to deliver a strong competitive edge.
The Heartland Civic Collaborative recognizes the need to leverage this thriving industry. Together, we will develop a multi-modal, integrated transportation vision for the region. This transportation vision supports and enhances the Heartland’s promising competitive advantage in the transportation industry.
The Heartland Civic Collaborative took its first step in developing this integrated transportation vision with the completion of a study conducted by TranSystems, Inc. The study analyzed commonalities, differences and gaps among the transportation plans of the four participating metros. It also identified opportunities for the Heartland Civic Collaborative.
Heartland Civic Collaborative Regional Transportation Strategy
With this study in hand, the transportation leadership of the Heartland Civic Collaborative assembled high-level, in-person meetings with the directors of the Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations for each of the four participating metros. These meetings fostered dialogue about the vision between the Heartland Civic Collaborative and public officials. We focus on several key priorities as we continue moving our transportation vision forward.
Top priority areas include:
Multi-year federal transportation funding authorization
Responsible management of the Heartland’s inland waterway system
Heartland region’s position as a transportation and logistics hub
Use of public/private partnerships and innovative funding/delivery methods
Heartland Freight Technology Plan
This plan examines freight connections between metropolitan areas and states, assesses potential impacts, and presents recommendations to harmonize the implementation of emerging freight technologies across the Central Plains/Heartland Region, which includes all or parts of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. This mega-region is a national hub for agriculture, manufacturing, and freight distribution.