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Board hears 2026 State Freight Plan update and approves amended FGTS county data submission

Washington Patriot Mobility strategic investment · April 10, 2026

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Summary

The board received the 2026 State Freight Plan briefing—needed to secure federal freight formula dollars—and approved an amended FGTS/FTTS county data submission after staff explained a substantial increase in county-designated strategic freight corridor mileage and funding caveats tied to congressional action.

At the April 10 meeting the Washington Patriot Mobility strategic investment board heard a presentation on the 2026 State Freight Plan update and an amended Freight and Goods Transportation System (FGTS/FTTS) county data submission, and a staff motion to approve the amended FGTS/FTTS submission was carried.

Jason Meloso, the board’s rail freight and strategic planning manager, told members the state must update its freight plan every four years to remain eligible for federal freight formula dollars. Meloso said the plan update adds a supply‑chain lens to evaluate commodity corridors, multimodal connectivity and resilience; staff projected total freight volume could increase roughly 45% from 2022 to 2050, driven mainly by truck freight.

Wenjun Zhao and Aaron Garland reported that counties finalized county data for the FGTS; after county submissions the set of county T1/T2 strategic freight corridors rose from about 14 miles in the preliminary fall submission to roughly 133 miles in the amended submission. Garland said WSDOT will publish an amended FGTS web map in April and expects to submit the finalized list to FIMSIB in April. He cautioned that while about $11 million in federal freight formula dollars is tentatively available for local projects through 2032, actual receipt of those funds requires congressional action on federal transportation funding.

Chair Temple Lehi said the board had an action item to approve the amended FGTS/FTTS submission; the clerk recorded the motion as carried. Board members asked technical questions about air freight forecasting, data sources (BTS/FAF/PUER), and how county updates affected corridor classifications. Staff said they plan follow‑up briefings in June and October as the plan and the freight investment plan proceed toward FHWA review and certification.

The board’s recorded action at the meeting: staff moved to approve the amended FGTS/FTTS submission and the question carried during the meeting; no roll‑call vote was transcribed.