Given the Des Moines metropolitan area's need to pursue freight issues more aggressively to make sure that the economy of this area, of central Iowa , and of Iowa , is competitive in the Upper Midwest, the nation, and the international arena, the MPO created a Freight Roundtable in April 2004.  The Freight Roundtable consists of representative from both the public and private sectors throughouth central Iowa, and meets bi-monthly to discuss freight-related initiatives important to central Iowa. Polk County Supervisor Robert Brownell chairs the Frieght Roundtable.

Freight Roundtable Mission Statement:

“. . . to work with the public and the private sector to maximize the Des Moines metropolitan area’s, central Iowa’s, and Iowa’s economic opportunity through development of and advocacy for an efficient transportation system to promote economic development and trade in the North American trade corridor centered on I-35/I-29 and connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico.”

Recent Discussion Topics:

- Freight improvement strategies for the MPO's Horizon Year 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan
- Trans-Iowa/Illinois Freight Corridor Study
- North American Supercorridor Coalition
- North American Inland Ports Network
- Des Moines International Airport Master Plan Update
- Port Des Moines Concept (PDF)
- Goods Movement Update Report
- Truck routes and Freight Inadequacies (PDF)
- Intermodal Survey (PDF)
- Iowa Foreign Trade Zone
- Iowa Railroad System
- Altoona Cold Storage Spur Line
- Bondurant Rail Spur

The Roundtable formed the Goods Movement Study Working Group in the Fall 2005.  The Working Group was composed of individuals from the private sector interested in developing a freight transportation strategy for the Des Moines metropolitan area, for central Iowa , and for Iowa . The committee's strategy is to have a draft document prepared with conclusion of the project and submittal of the study's report to the full DMAMPO by June 2006.

The Goods Movement 2006 Update Report has attempted to gain a better understanding of goods movement related to future transportation planning and economic development needs in the Des Moines metropolitan area and in central Iowa.  The purpose is to provide updated information and analysis that complements the 2002 Goods Movement Report.