The River of Trade Corridor Coalition was created in 2004 to unite cities, counties, transportation authorities, freight movement entities, and businesses along the trade route to protect, maximize, and expand commerce, job creation  and the economic vitality of the corridor while, at the same time mitigating congestion and facilitating a cleaner environment.

Congressional and Legislative Caucuses:

The River of Trade Corridor Coalition is supported by growing, multistate, and bi-partisan Congressional and Legislative Caucuses. ROTCC has scheduled Washington, D.C. briefings to Congressional members and staff, and has also coordinated mailings from current members to potential Congressional and Legislative Caucus members.  ROTCC also invites potential Congressional and Legislative Caucus members to the national meetings that are held in their region.

Congressional High Priority Corridor Designation:

During the 2005 SAFETEA-LU transportation reauthorization, ROTCC was successful in achieving a Congressional High Priority Corridor designation for part of the River of Trade Corridor between Dallas and Memphis along Interstates 30 and 40.  ROTCC has been in dialogue with the Congressional Caucus to achieve the same designation for the entire corridor.  The additional portions of the Corridor that require a High Priority Corridor designation are along the following Interstates: I-10, I-20, I-35, I-45, I-65, I-71, I-75.   The 2009 Reauthorization will be an opportunity to achieve this designation. 

Agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency:

The Coalition has signed Memorandums of Understanding with EPA Region 6 (April 2006) and Region 4 (May 2007) and continues to work toward similar agreements with Regions 5 and 9 to achieve the nation’s first “green and clean” surface transportation corridor designation.  ROTCC has also adopted resolutions in support of the West Coast Collaborative and the San Pedro Bay Area Ports Clean Air Action Plan, as well as resolutions to support EPA Region 5 and the Great Lakes Collaborative.

Strategic missions to Washington, D.C.:

ROTCC has coordinated strategic missions to Washington, D.C., with a tailored schedule of appointments to brief and seek support from House and Senate offices representing districts and states along the Corridor, as well as Executive branch transportation officials, foreign embassies, and relevant trade associations.

Meetings:

Western, northeastern and southern gateways of international trade have hosted ROTCC National Meetings: Laredo, April 2006; Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, March 2007; Windsor, June 2007; and the Port of Houston, November 2007.  Several major inland locations along the Corridor have hosted meetings as well, including Little Rock/North Little Rock/Pulaski County, October 2005; Dallas County, June 2006; Memphis/West Memphis, December 2006; and Maricopa Association of Governments (Phoenix), May 2008.  Presentations during ROTCC meetings from transportation experts and policymakers provide regional and industry expertise on transportation, goods movement, trade and commerce, and environmental issues specifically affecting the River of Trade Corridor and its members.

Periodic fact-finding missions:

ROTCC has coordinated periodic fact-finding missions in order to research the needs of the Corridor and promote the Corridor to transportation and logistics providers.  They also provide an opportunity to establish relationships, as it relates to ROTCC, with key international partners in trade and commerce and to relay the benefits of using the River of Trade Corridor for goods movement.  These missions have been to cities throughout the United States and to international destinations that play a vital role in the success of ROTCC expansion and policy initiatives.  Previous missions have included domestic travel along the Corridor to give ROTCC presentations to city and county elected officials of major transportation regions and international travel to meet with government officials of Mexico, Canada and the Panama Canal.  A mission to China and eastern Asia has been proposed.