[calcowgirl]

No suprise, eh?

No, not surprised, just more interested. I was looking for the source of the term ("Trade Corridors of National Significance") to see if there was more published on the master plan. From reading the link in Calpernia's post above, along with the Trans Texas Corridor and California's current actions, the plan seems to have been well coordinated.

I think I found the references to the federal plans in the federal highway bill, HR3 -- Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users' (SAFETEA-LU). Subtitle C seems to cover it, including a slew of questionable earmarks. I haven't read the whole thing yet, but it uses the terms "national and regional significance" and a predecessor bill used the term "national economic significance."

Subtitle C--Mobility and Efficiency
Sec. 1301. Projects of national and regional significance.
Sec. 1302. National corridor infrastructure improvement program.
Sec. 1303. Coordinated border infrastructure program.
Sec. 1304. High priority corridors on the National Highway System.
Sec. 1305. Truck parking facilities.
Sec. 1306. Freight intermodal distribution pilot grant program.
Sec. 1307. Deployment of magnetic levitation transportation projects.
Sec. 1308. Delta region transportation development program.
Sec. 1309. Extension of public transit vehicle exemption from axle weight restrictions.
Sec. 1310. Interstate oasis program.

[hedgetrimmer]

The term must be of international origins, here it is mentioned in an article published in Canada in 2003.

Time to get on board

Spending in each area would have to achieve agreed-upon public interest goals such as improved traffic flow, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and better air quality, the requirement to support strategic trade corridors of national significance, the preservation of land, the diminution of noise, the contribution to improved children's health and safety, or any other legitimate public objectives.

[hedgetrimmer]

Here is some detailed information on North American Trade corridors.

[hedgetrimmer]

Here is a reference from July 8, 1998

Expansion Expansion of Southwest Passage Corridor Designation for Federal Funding under TEA 21

Section 1118 of TEA 21 makes federal funds available for planning and construction in transportation corridors of national significance. Representatives of the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and the Councils of Governments within those states have been conferring for over a year to develop an integrated and comprehensive trade/transportation strategy for the East-West trade corridor, named the Southwest Passage. The objective of the Southwest Passage is to connect the East-West trade routes along the U.S./Mexico border with a seamless freight transportation system extending from Los Angeles to Houston, Texas. To date the only portion of the corridor that has been identified for funding in TEA 21 is that section extending from Los Angeles along I-10 and San Diego along I-8 to the Arizona border. However, there are provisions in the TEA 21 legislation for designating additional corridors. On June 23, 1998, the Transportation Review Committee recommended that the Management Committee support the expansion of the Southwest Passage corridor to include the portion running through Arizona to Houston, Texas for funding as a high priority corridor in TEA 21.

For more information, contact Harry P. Wolfe, Program Manager, 254-6300.

[hedgetrimmer]

Here is a summit that took place in Denver in 1997
(the 'stakeholders' were at work here) In your research you can look for intermodal transportation too.

The Roundtable Discussion:
An Overview of the Nexus between Government Policies and Stakeholder Concerns

The feasibility of an integrated North American rail, highway, and port system was examined. A consensus emerged emphasizing coordination rather than integration. The complexity and sheer number of policy-making structures clearly complicates the creation of intermodal systems within and among countries. The importance of seamless borders to an "integrated" system was reiterated, and a particularly important concern identified the need to improve the current border-crossing procedures between the US and Mexico. The considerable financial investment needed to achieve an integrated system was acknowledged, as "equal quality among the partners" will require not only increased coordination, within as well as among the countries, but also a greater focus on processes and policies. The topic of "North American transportation corridors of national significance" was raised, in general, without specific identification of what would constitute such corridors.

http://www.du.edu/transportation/TransportationResearchProjects/1997_roundtable.html