Freight Transportation Planning and Modeling

CE 451/551

Outline

• Freight Planning– Impetus– Activities– Case study

• Freight Modeling– NHI notes– Iowa model example

Big changes, last 50 yrs.• 1960s intermodalism (containers)• 1980ish rail and trucking deregulation

– Lower rates– Greater competition– Concentration of service

• Integrated logistics (supply chain management)– Need for reliable networks (JIT)

Big Changes …• Resulted in …

– freight bill drops from 15% of GDP in 1980 to 11% in 1990 ($$$)

– Improved transportation• Cost savings• Competitive edge

– freight transportation intensity• ratio of total ton-miles to total Gross Domestic Product• 0.59 in 1970 to 0.38 in 2002 (2000 dollars)• suggests increase in freight transportation productivity

– Truck trips to grow much faster than auto trips

• ISTEA/TEA21/SAFETEA-LU …MPO Freight Planning Mandate

MPO Freight Planning Goals (from SCAG)

• 1. Economic Efficiency;• 2. Congestion Mitigation;• 3. Safety Improvement;• 4. Air Quality Improvement; and• 5. System Security.

Freight Stakeholders• National

– Air Freight Assoc– American Assoc of Port Authorities– American Trucking Associations– Assoc American Railroads– Intermodal Assoc of North America– National Assoc of Manufacturers– National Industrial Transportation League– National Private Truck Council

• State/Local– Iowa Motor Truck Association– manufacturers, builders, wholesalers and

retailers

How to make the freight planning process work???

ID and make Improvements• Brainstorming and prioritizing (e.g.,

KC distributed cameras to truck drivers)

• Improvements should be quickly implemented (e.g., Signing, signal timing, corner widening)

• MPO needs to develop positive track record

Effective Planning Approaches

• Ad hoc working groups (task forces) OK

• Corridor studies (e.g. TH10)• Modeling/data collection (private!)

– Trust is important, results in …• Willingness to provide data• Data are not misused• Unnecessary data are not collected

Appreciate Perspectives …

• MPO long range is 20+ years• Carrier long range is 6 –12 months!• MPO may not fully understand “time is money”• Shippers/carriers may not understand planning

process and jargon• Release of proprietary information may result in

loss of competitive position• Shippers/carriers participate to be “good

corporate citizens”• Good for planners to visit shipper/carrier facilities

to learn – gain respect

Maintaining Private Sector Interest

• Time management• Education/communication• Short term results• Consider participant interests• Review group focus/purpose

• Consider appointing a well known/respected member of the private freight community as chair

Example of Public/Private Freight Planning

See: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/freightplanning/

Chicago MPO (CATS)– Longest history of freight planning, dedicated

staff, models– Intermodal advisory task force– Motor carrier travel surveys– Separate trip table for trucks– ID bottlenecks– Draft intermodal element of TIP– Inventory facilities and resources– Projects 55% increase in truck travel 1990-

2020

CATS Task Force Recommendations

• Operational restrictions/system management measures: enforcing curbside management restrictions, promoting off-peak travel, not restricting truck access to central business districts;

• Vehicle restrictions: considerations for multi-unit and combination vehicles;

• Viaduct clearances; • Strategic and supplemental regional arterial programs:

accommodating through trips not well served by expressways;

• Driver information and incident management: including ITS considerations; and

• Intermodal facilities/industrial areas: improving access to terminals and improving intermodal transfers

CATS Specific Bottlenecks …• Signs and signals; • Lane width and turning bays; • Speed limits; • Merges and ramps; • Viaducts and grade crossings; • Access to terminals; and • Restrictions, rules, regulations, and

others

CATS IFIGIS (Intermodal Facilities Inventory GIS)

• Intermodal Facilities• Rail Network• Road Network• Trucking Terminals• Container Depots• Water Terminals and

Ports• Public Use Airports• Operational

Constraints

• National Highway System Connectors

• Background Geography

CATS: Benefits of Participation

• ensure against rash and unwise policies, such as closing an expressway terminal

• preserve the existing competitive balance between private companies

• have working relationships with CATS and with other companies

• staff can speak the freight sector's language and is aggressive at soliciting the members' input

Statewide Freight Modeling

From NHI notes

Freight Model Improvement Program http://www.fmip.gov/