b'8American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(NETWORKcontinuedlastyearandguidedthe from page 2) state agency for three years UIPAsmissionofstream- duringitsstart-up/ramp-up lining the moving goods is adevelopmentphase.Hedge priority.Lastyearthestate- had previously held a senior ownedportauthoritysaidexecutivepostwithPortof that one-third of Utahs GDP,Los Angeles and is credited employment,andincomeswithcreatingrelationships are dependent on the logisticsfor UIPA with coastal ports, system, one that is beset nation- the Federal Maritime Admin-widewithproblemsrangingistration, the national freight fromhighwaycongestion,railsystem,andnumerous outdatedinfrastructure,laborocean carriers.shortages,environmentalpol- Since taking UIPAs reins lution and manufacturing flee- in2022,Harthasmoved ing overseas. quicklytoputhisstampon In addition to on-site mul- theagency.Forstarters,he timodaltransshipping,eachhas rebranded it with a new rural project will have a foreignlogothatvisuallycommu-trade zone where localized, tax- nicates its mission as a mul-advantaged manufacturing cantidisciplinary,multimodal be conducted with the goal oflogistical force that leverages creating new jobs and even aUtahs geographical location residential component to housein the US.administrativepersonnelandA truck passes through the Utah Inland Port facilty.production workers. WearethecrossroadsHart says when UIPA wasourClassOnerailservice a N Ewl ook aNdr EvisEd of the West from a distribu- formed,theoriginalagree- provider in Utah and our key m issioN tion standpoint, he told thementswithseveralcoastalpartner. Our job at UIPA is to HeadingtheUIPAandAmericanJournalofTrans- portsweremorestrategicmake sure that we pull more chief architect of its revisedportationinanexclusivealliancestoshiptruckand(truck)volumeontorailby strategicplanisBenHart,interview.WevegotI-80,railtraffictoandfromthegiving good service and good executive director, and chiefI-70 and I-15 so rather thanports of Oakland, Los Ange- prices,sowehavetowork executive officer who, inter- focus on just one location inles,andLongBeach.Nowtogether.estingly,doesnothaveathestate,ithastobestate- weretryingtobroadenourStill, the UIPAs goal is not dedicated logistics or trans- widenetworkofregionalestablished partnerships withjustexpeditedfreighttrans-portationbackground.Heinland ports. But that doesntnewportssuchasPacificportation. We want, he adds, was previously deputy direc- mean they have to be smallNorthwest ports where Uniontoharmonizelogisticsand tor of Utah governor Spencerbecausesignificantlarge- Pacifichasrailserviceandmanufacturingtomaximize J. Coxs Office of Economicscale terminals are still beingTexaswheretheUPhasanlong-term economic benefits Development. Hart replacedBen Hart, UIPA executive directorconsidered.Itsjustnotaexpeditedintermodalser- (NETWORKcontinued on JackHedgewhoretiredand CEO single big facility. vice.TheUnionPacificispage 10)READY,INNOVATIVE &RESOLUTION FOCUSEDReliable access between U.S. Markets and the Pacific RimOptimal supply chain readinessSuperior, Actionable, Operational Data VisibilityRecognized industry leadershipInnovative Port Optimizer supply chain solution Leader in Environmental Stewardship53 ft channel and berth depth@PortofLA'