The Freight Stakeholders Coalition, an alliance of 18 shipping and transportation provider/planning groups working together to support policies that promote freight mobility in the United States, has released a platform of nine principles for consideration in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization legislation. The top two principles in the coalition’s platform focus on achieving long-term, sustainable funding to meet the nation’s existing and future freight transportation infrastructure needs, and to provide dedicated funds outside of the Highway Trust Fund for freight mobility. Chaired by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in Alexandria, Va., AAPA Executive Vice President Jean Godwin said that the Freight Stakeholders Coalition membership represents nearly every segment of the U.S. economy.  “Like other coalition members, AAPA believes that the next surface transportation bill must recognize the indisputable link between goods movement and economic competitiveness,” she said. “With this link in mind, we are recommending new and additional funding in the next surface transportation bill that prioritizes freight projects which optimize and integrate the nation’s freight transportation system.” Godwin added that coalition members are committed to modernizing America’s freight transportation system by advocating projects of regional or national significance that reduce congestion, enhance goods movement, improve the environment and create and sustain jobs.