Illinois State Freight Advisory Council

The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for the efficient movement of people and goods. The Department has re-energized this commitment in September 2013 by establishing the Illinois State Freight Advisory Council (ISFAC) to provide a standing forum for coordination of freight multimodal planning in the State of Illinois in order to enhance the benefits of every mode, improve intermodal connection, and sustain the State’s position as the primary freight hub of the United States.

The ISFAC will have a statewide focus on freight mobility in Illinois that will reflect a mix of freight experts from across all modes to include railroad, port, and airport operators, trucking firms, freight shippers and receivers, economic development organizations, public sector representatives, academic and professional organizations, manufacturing, agriculture, and energy as well. To that end, the Illinois State Freight Advisory Council is comprised of high level public and private sector representatives involved with freight transportation on Illinois’ highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

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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