Michael Morris, Director of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and Nick Konen, Director of Strategic Development, Hillwood joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss how Texas is building the future of autonomous freight and supply chains. 

AllianceTexas Smart Port in North Texas represents a groundbreaking vision for the future of freight and logistics, combining advanced infrastructure with automation and autonomy. Located at one of America’s largest inland ports, the development features 60 million square feet of existing warehouse space, with another 60 million planned over the next 30 years. 

The project leverages unique assets including the Alliance Airport handling 2.1 billion pounds of cargo annually, BNSF’s intermodal facility moving a million containers yearly, and strategic placement along I-35. Through a $80 million federal grant and $96 million in private investment, the Smart Port is implementing dedicated truck lanes, advanced sensor networks, and infrastructure designed for autonomous trucks.

Recorded on Thursday, December 19, 2024

Episode Chapters

0:00 AllianceTexas Smart Port

3:11 Planning for Growth

8:27 Texas Innovation

15:40 Warehouse Automation

18:58 Roadway Sensors

24:04 Dedicated Autonomous Truck Lanes

30:10 Automation Jobs

34:31 Freight Tunnels

36:57 Apprenticeships 

41:12 Economic Impact of AllianceTexas Smart Port

46:27 Future of Autonomy & Automation in North Texas

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