During the symposium co-hosted by the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State University's Institute for Transportation, Horsley said the Midwest in particular needs to develop a regional freight plan to keep its exports competitive in the global marketplace. Representatives from 23 states participated in the conference.

"A multimodal freight plan will help governors and legislators understand the revenues needed to build a 21st century transportation system that the Midwest's economic future depends on," he told the symposium. "Now that the nation has gotten past the debt-ceiling debate, the real focus needs to be on economic recovery, jobs, an export strategy, freight plans, and infrastructure improvements to assure U.S. competitiveness."

Congress is unlikely to raise any additional revenue for federal highway programs unless regions can demonstrate what they would do with new funding to improve America's infrastructure and competitive position in the world economy, Horsley contended. He noted the country's population is expected to grow from 310 million today to 365 million by 2030, which will cause Iowa's freight tonnage of 540 million to grow 57% during the next 19 years. Although Iowa's population is not expected to increase much, the state -- like its Midwestern neighbors -- will continue to be positioned in key freight corridors to get products to and from consumers.

In developing regional freight plans, states and metropolitan planning organizations need to determine the volumes of freight that are moving from which sectors, by what mode, and on which corridors, Horsley recommended. He cited ethanol and wind power as two strong growth industries in the Midwest that place a heavy demand on highways because ethanol is difficult to transport by pipeline and equipment to construct wind farms typically moves by truck.

Exports will also fuel growth in freight movements between now and 2030, Horsley predicted. He noted 70 million new middle-class consumers will enter the marketplace in developing nations such as China, India, and Brazil; and that those new middle-class consumers will demand products such as meat and grains that the Midwest produces in abundance.

In conclusion, Horsley praised the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Regional Council of Governments for releasing a freight plan last week. That plan -- available at bit.ly/OKIfreight -- can serve as a model for other regions seeking to document their freight transportation needs, he said.