Under the leadership of Project Manager Vincent Matheney, the JFA team is developing the SEMPO Multimodal Freight Study, establishing a comprehensive long-range framework that enhances Southeast Missouri’s complex freight transportation network. The project builds on the region’s inherent multimodal strengths, specifically its high-capacity highway corridors, Class I and short-line railroad convergence, and open-river port infrastructure on the Mississippi River, positioning the regional freight network to leverage its strategic geography as a primary logistical advantage.
Technical experts Rob Schiffer and Stephanie Cupp used advanced data modeling and industry expertise to uncover market opportunities, shaping the Market Assessment and Analysis Report and the Freight Performance and Conditions Assessment, which evaluated truck parking capacity gaps, regulatory compliance, and asset lifecycles near high-stress industrial nodes. These workflows identified pathways for tech-driven logistics, commercial vehicle safety countermeasures, and advanced manufacturing growth, preparing the network to absorb a projected 58.9 percent increase in total truck tonnage.
Grounded in a robust community engagement process, including stakeholder interviews, the study integrated local logistics needs and land-use conflicts to define the region’s long-term aspirations, formulating a strategic blueprint for a future-ready, safe, and reliable network that balances economic vitality with neighborhood protection. The collaboration produced a prioritized list of actionable capital projects, localized land-use policies, and innovative financing mechanisms, providing a clear, data-backed guide for future regional infrastructure investments and positioning Southeast Missouri to compete for federal discretionary grant funding.