Rail Freight Solutions to Roadway Congestion--Final Report and Guidebook (2007)

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3This chapter discusses the study background and goals and describes the components of the project research. 1.1 Objective The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) funded NCHRP Project 8-42 to examine the poten- tial for use of rail freight solutions as a way to relieve roadway traffic congestion by shifting some freight movement from trucks to railroads. 1.1.1 Background Congestion in urban areas and intercity corridors is a growing concern. Truck traffic has become a significant contributor to road congestion. At the same time, some transportation planners have recognized rail as an underuti- lized mode for freight transport. They see the potential for increasing opportunities to move freight by rail as one way to help decrease deterioration of existing highways, while positively affecting congestion, safety, and pollution. The interaction between rail and other modes of freight movement continues to be an issue for transportation plan- ners. On the one hand, concerns about reliability, flexibil- ity, and timeliness have contributed to a decline in market share for rail-freight movements. On the other hand, con- gestion, air quality, safety, and security concerns lead planners to consider rail options. These issues make it particularly important to develop methods that can be used to analyze the effects and opportunities for public investment in rail-freight capacity as a way to help mitigate roadway congestion. 1.1.2 Report Goals To address these concerns, this study was developed to accomplish two essential goals: • To assemble a base of information on key factors, stake- holders, obstacles, strategies, and constraints affecting the potential for rail freight solutions to roadway congestion, and • To develop a guidebook for assessing the merits of public investment in rail freight solutions to relieve roadway congestion, that lays out available tools and methods for evaluation along with guidelines for bringing these considerations into transportation planning and decision- making processes. This final report presents findings from all phases of the study process, in fulfillment of the first goal. The Guidebook fulfills the second goal. 1.2 Elements of the Study The study was organized into a series of tasks to cover major considerations affecting opportunities for diverting truck traffic to rail freight options: 1. Prior Research Findings—relevant literature and ongoing research on rail-freight economics, rail and intermodal planning, rail relocation, rail/road conflicts, benefit-cost analysis and modeling, and public/private partnerships. This topic is addressed in Chapter 2 of the Final Report. 2. Case Studies—examples of rail freight solutions that have been applied so as to reduce roadway congestion. These examples encompass congested ports and commercial cen- ters, congested interstate corridors, congested terminal facilities, and rapidly growing cities. Together they provide insight into the potential for rail solutions to address these problems and key factors affecting that potential. This topic is addressed in Chapter 3 of the Final Report. 3. Freight Mode Choice—factors and constraints affecting the potential and likelihood of diverting various types of freight traffic from truck to rail. This includes economic, C H A P T E R 1 Introduction and Overview

development, social, environmental, safety, and security factors, as applied to private sector shippers and carriers as well as the public sector. This topic is addressed in Chap- ter 4 of the Final Report. 4. Freight Trends—short- and long-term trends in freight movements, business patterns, and land use that affect congestion and freight flow patterns. Together, a multi- tude of such trends are changing the mix of situations and solutions where there is potential to shift freight modes or otherwise mitigate congestion conflicts. This topic is addressed in Chapter 5 of this Final Report. 5. Data Sources—currently available information on trans- portation and economic factors, as well as needs to span public and private sector sources, to evaluate opportunities for rail freight solutions to roadway congestion. This topic is addressed in Chapter 6 of the Final Report. 6. Analysis Framework—a methodology for using available data to assess relative benefits and costs and the feasibility of public investment in rail freight solutions to roadway congestion. This topic is introduced in Chapter 7 of the Final Report and then discussed in greater detail in Chap- ter 3 of the separate Guidebook. 7. Public Policy—processes, practices, and barriers, at all levels of government, that can facilitate or inhibit public- sector investment in rail freight. This includes legislative restrictions, planning processes, and implementation procedures. This topic is introduced in Section 2.6 of the Final Report. Recommendations for effective public- private partnerships for both planning and funding are then presented in greater detail in Chapter 4 of the Guidebook. 8. Decision-making Considerations—benefit-cost analysis procedures relevant for decision making on public invest- ment in rail freight transportation. This topic is introduced in Section 2.5 of the Final Report, and then discussed in greater detail in Chapter 5 of the Guidebook. 4