State freight plan.

Existing law creates the Transportation Agency in state government, consisting of various departments, including the Department of Transportation, which, among other things, is responsible for the state highway system. Existing law also requires the department to prepare a state rail plan, which contains a freight element. Existing law provides for the state and regional agencies to engage in various transportation planning activities, including goods movement planning activities. Existing federal law provides certain incentives to the states for developing a state freight plan consistent with federal guidelines. This bill would require the Transportation Agency to prepare a state freight plan with specified elements to govern the immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the state with respect to the movement of freight. The bill would require the agency to establish a freight advisory committee with various responsibilities in that regard. The initial state freight plan would be submitted to the Legislature, the Governor, and certain state agencies by December 31, 2014, and updated every 5 years thereafter.