About

Members of the Illinois State Freight Advisory Council will:

• Advise the State on freight related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs.
• Communicate and coordinate regional priorities and information between the public and private sector regarding freight industry and system needs.
• Promote the interests of Illinois in improving the freight system in the State in order to sustain Illinois’ position as the primary freight hub of the United States.
• Gather and review research and study material from other freight partners, planning organizations, universities, and national and regional advisory groups.
• Collaborate with Governors' Illinois Export Advisory Council on freight mobility issues that lead to enhancing Illinois’ competitive advantage in the global markets.
• Encourage the use of innovative technologies and best practices within the freight transportation sector.
• Suggest potential planning and research topics for IDOT to further explore including freight corridors, innovative freight planning, brownfield freight corridor development, and others.
• Advise the State on freight related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs
• Identify obstacles and challenges to efficient freight movement in Illinois
• Identify choke points and gaps in the freight network
• Identify freight industry priorities for improvement
• Advise on potential program initiatives that enable Illinois firms to move goods faster and more reliably
• Identify Performance Measurements Communicate and coordinate regional priorities and information between public and private sector regarding freight industry and system needs
• Develop and enhance working relationships between the State and the carriers as well as with logistics and intermodal terminal operators and commodity groups
• Expand coordination with neighboring states and other major economic regions
• Identify key freight corridors and connection points for all modes and commodities
• Identify opportunities for partnering through public, private initiatives for freight industry and public benefits
• Promote the interests of Illinois in improving the freight system
• Provide information to peers and colleagues regarding the integrated intermodal freight transportation network and services available in Illinois
• Provide support locally and nationally for key freight system funding and improvement
• Identify opportunities for promoting transportation services that enhance Illinois’ position as the global freight hub of the nation
• Encourage all transportation stakeholders to find common interests so as to promote a unified agenda to enhance overall infrastructure investment across all modes