Freight Transportation Planning for Urban Areas

Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, Dec 2004 by Chatterjee, Arun

Freight transportation is more complex than passenger transportation because it involves many parties and many of them are in the private sector. Freight service is provided by the private sector, and the public sector's role is limited primarily to the provision of guide ways for different modes (roads, airports, waterways, etc). A great deal of knowledge resides among the carriers, shippers and receivers, who are the parties directly involved with decisions and choices related to freight transportation.

Therefore, it is an excellent idea for public agency planners and engineers to form an advisory committee comprising representatives of carriers, shippers and receivers to take advantage of their knowledge of existing problems and issues leading to the identification of fast action projects. This approach, however, should not be taken lightly because the cooperation of the private sector may not continue unless their recommendations are pursued and some of them are implemented.

Difficulties and Challenges of Freight Planning

Newcomers to freight planning should be aware of some of the difficulties planners usually do not face when planning for passenger travel:

* The general public has a negative attitude toward freight service providers. Elected officials also may not give high priority to freight vehicles and freight planning. Therefore, an MPO or any other agency engaged in freight planning should consider some educational and promotional activities to educate the general public and elected officials about the importance of freight transportation for a community. The help of news media and the chamber of commerce should be sought to publicize the case for freight oriented projects.

* The cooperation of private freight companies is essential for successful freight planning; however, it is sometimes difficult to get freight companies involved in the planning process. If they are approached in an appropriate manner, it is not difficult to get representatives of carriers, shippers and receivers to participate as members of a freight advisory committee. Unfortunately, in many cases, private sector representatives do not continue to participate. This may be because they want fast action that does not occur or they do not understand the time-consuming planning process of public agencies. It is an excellent idea to implement a few improvement strategies quickly to gain the confidence of the private sector.

* Decisions made by shippers (and receivers) to use one mode instead of another are based on economic factors that usually are beyond the control of local planners and engineers. Therefore, ideas such as reducing traffic congestion by shifting freight flows from trucks to rail may not be practical for local agencies to pursue. Solutions involving modal shifts must be investigated at a statewide or regional level.

References

1. Ogden, K.W. Urban Goods Movement: A Guide to Policy and Planning. Ashgate Publishing Company, 1992.

2. Fischer, M.J. and M. Han. Truck Trip Generation Data. NCHRP Synthesis 298. Transportation Research Board (TRB), 2001.