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Improving freight flow in the Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee (GCM) corridor

With input from motor carrier associations, the GCM Corridor coalition has developed a plan to reduce the impacts of congestion on tollways and expressways in the corridor.

GCM and the motor carrier associations identified several areas where delays to freight movements could be reduced on state maintained roads. This initiative will benefit the regional economy by improving the delivery times for goods. It will also reduce congestion to the traveling public by helping route commercial trucks around some roadway segments that are already at capacity.

A meeting between members of the GCM Executive Committee and representatives of the Illinois Trucking Association, the Midwest Truckers Association, the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, and the Upper Midwest Freight Corridor Study was held on December 9, 2005 to identify areas the GCM Corridor should focus on. The following were identified as areas that GCM member agencies could target to significantly impact truck traffic:

  • Traveler Information
  • Virtual Weigh Stations
  • Work Zones
  • Rest Areas
  • Weight Regulation
  • Congestion Mitigation/Truck-Only Lanes
The GCM Corridor then held workshops on December 14, 2005 and January 4, 2006 for members of the GCM Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) Work Group and representatives of the motor carrier associations to suggest project ideas in these six areas. After analysis of these project ideas, a report was issued recommending the following projects:
  • Conduct a Freight Industry Outreach Campaign to make truck drivers and dispatchers aware of the real-time traveler information currently available.
  • Organize a Regional Corridor Action Team to provide trucking companies information on construction near the Illinois/Wisconsin border.
  • Expand Advance Notification Boundaries to post messages about congestion and closures on DMS system up to 200 miles away from the Corridor.
  • Deploy Dynamic Message Signs at key decision points within a 200 mile area of the corridor.
  • Collect Website Publications of Local Regulations to provide a common point for truckers to refer to for state, county, and municipal regulations in the corridor.
  • Identify potential sites for Expanded Parking Facilities.
  • Partner with entities to Develop and Operate Parking Facilities.
The Corridor has started with some of the more immediate actions, such as working with motor carrier associations to provide articles on the GCM Gateway to the association magazines.

For more information, contact Dan Shamo at or 317- 636-7469.

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