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The vast majority of goods handled by rail travel <br />through the County without stopping. In 2014, 95 <br />percent (4.3 million units and 122 million tons) of rail <br />freight in the County was through movements. Much of <br />this traffic was comprised of crude oil, ores, and grain <br />travelling from the Upper Midwest and Great Plains to <br />Chicago and Eastern markets. About 6 million tons of <br />rail freight (194 thousand units) originated and/or <br />terminated in Hennepin County facilities, including CP's <br />Humboldt and Shoreham yards. <br />There are approximately 172 track miles of freight rail <br />infrastructure in Hennepin County. <br />Railroad Miles Percentage <br />Class 1 <br />(Canadian Pacific, <br />Burlington Northern Santa <br />Fe, & Union Pacific) <br />Class II <br />(Twin Cities & Western <br />Railroad, Minnesota <br />Commercial Railway, & <br />Progressive Rail Inc.) <br />Hennepin County Regional <br />Railroad Authority (HCRRA) <br />155 90% <br />15 <br />7% <br />2 1% <br />Figure 4-08 illustrates freight facilities and rail infrastructure <br />ownership across Hennepin County. <br />Plans, Programs and Initiatives <br />Twin Cities Regional Truck Highway Corridor Study <br />In 2017, the Metropolitan Council conducted the <br />Regional Truck Highway Corridor Study to identify and <br />prioritize regional truck highway corridors. Of the 30 <br />top truck delay hotspots identified, nine are located <br />within Hennepin County. <br />Table 4-01 lists the nine roadway segments located in <br />Hennepin County and provides the corresponding delay by <br />corridor. <br />State Rail Grade Crossing Safety Project Report <br />In 2016, the Minnesota Department of Transportation <br />conducted a 10-year crash analysis (2004 to 2013) for all <br />Minnesota counties and identified Hennepin County as <br />having the highest number of total crashes (55) and the <br />second highest number of fatal plus injury crashes (9) at <br />rail grade crossings. <br />Currently, there are 272 public at -grade rail crossings <br />for vehicles and pedestrians in Hennepin County and 49 <br />of those are located on the Hennepin County roadway <br />network. Safety at these crossing remain a high priority <br />for Hennepin County and we will continue to pursue <br />high benefit -low cost at -grade rail crossing <br />improvements and expanded educational programs to <br />improve safety. <br />Hennepin County Freight Study, 2016 <br />In 2016, Hennepin County conducted the Hennepin <br />County Freight Study to understand how the County's <br />transportation networks are being used for the handling <br />of freight. <br />As a first step to actively collect and monitor freight <br />data, county staff have strategically selected 60 existing <br />Hennepin County traffic count stations to upgrade <br />counter equipment, utilizing advanced technology to <br />better distinguish commercial truck traffic from general <br />automobile traffic. Our enhanced data will help better <br />determine specific needs and priorities along our <br />system. <br />Cargo Oriented Development <br />Hennepin County staff participate in a regional task <br />force on 'Cargo Oriented Development' (COD). COD is <br />an initiative by the Center for Neighborhood <br />Technology which among other goals, seeks to match <br />regionally preferred industrial land which has potential <br />for redevelopment with the need to provide for greater <br />worker access to jobs in the region. The COD initiative <br />has recently been awarded a grant through the <br />McKnight Foundation for a two-year study of feasibility <br />in the Twin Cities. <br />31 <br />