Framework For Evaluation Of System Impacts Of Intermodal Terminals Using Commodity Flow Data

Download or read book Framework for Evaluation of System Impacts of Intermodal Terminals Using Commodity Flow Data written by Chiranjivi Sarma Bhamidipati and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the challenges attributable to increasing freight traffic and roadway congestion it is necessary to investigate opportunities for better management of goods movements. Rail-truck intermodal freight transportation can be considered as one such solution for reducing long-haul truck traffic on highways. For the rail-truck intermodal freight transportation to act as an effective transportation alternative, it is necessary to evaluate its impacts on the transportation system. A framework for evaluation of rail-truck intermodal terminal projects with qualitative and quantitative measures has been established using public goals and private stakeholder perspective. With the use of a case study, some of these measures have been evaluated. Recommendations have also made on data collection procedures for making a full scale evaluation. The case study selected for the Project is the proposed freight intermodal terminal at Petersburg, Virginia, conceived by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. This analysis formed a bridge between a region and a corridor based analysis. The key findings of the study are as follows: (a) Evaluation of an intermodal terminal project requires a systematic multi-regional modeling approach; (b) The impacts of an intermodal terminal are region and trade corridor specific; and (c) In cases where estimated intermodal rail drayage forms a small share of the overall truck traffic, the introduction of an intermodal terminal does not have substantial impacts on accessibility, mobility or safety. The study successfully developed models for estimation of impacts, including a two-stage accessibility model for drayage, a truck-rail mode choice model, truck involved crash models, and secondary local freight traffic impact model, mainly using data from the Commonwealth of Virginia.