Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 1
Chapter 1: Introduction and
Background
What is the purpose of this guide?
In many ways freight movement may be considered the lifeblood of
our economy. Over 60 million tons of freight move through the U.S.
freight transportation system daily, representing roughly $40 billion
in goods. Efficient movement of freight (i.e., mode selection, routing,
and intermodal transfer) is necessary to make the best use of our
transportation facilities, protect the environment, and reduce energy
requirements, while keeping up with the ever-increasing demand for
goods.
In many ways freight
The freight environment continues to be a changing landscape. Trade movement may be
is increasingly global, and manufacturing continues to move offshore. considered the lifeblood of
Fuel prices continue to fluctuate. Governments at all levels seek new our economy.
ways of reducing carbon emissions, congestion, and pollution. These,
and other factors, place increased importance on how we move raw
materials and finished goods from place to place . . . from origin
to ultimate destination. Greater emphasis on reliability and supply
chain management increases the importance of efficient local and
regional freight movement whether ultimate shipping destinations
are across town or across the world.
The choices made about where these activities take place and the
choices made by the carriers who serve these places, drive how
transportation infrastructure is used. The location of freight facilities
can have both positive and negative economic and social effects on
local communities, regions, and states. Maximizing the benefits while
minimizing the impacts are sensible goals for any public decision
making.
Freight Facility Location Selection: A Guide for Public Officials 1
OCR for page 2
This guide for public officials has been prepared in concert with
NCFRP Project 23: "Economic and Transportation Drivers for Siting
Freight Intermodal and Warehouse Distribution Facilities," published
as NCFRP Web-Only Document 1 (http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/
165743.aspx), and explores both:
· Private sector supply chain and freight facilities, such as
distribution centers and warehouses, and how market, cost
competitiveness, and other factors shape private sector siting
decisions and
· Transportation facilities (public and private) that manage
freight carriage such as intermodal rail, transload, and ports.
Economic development, planning,
and other government entities The research for NCFRP Project 23 was conducted through a process
and elected officials at the local, of extensive review of existing literature, interviews with industry
regional, and state level recognize practitioners, and survey and analysis of actual freight facility
that trade and freight activity result location situations and processes. In addition to detailed information
in employment and investment on freight facility siting factors, the final research report features a
opportunities and so have chapter of case studies illustrating freight issues and dynamics. Some
increasingly sought new strategies excerpts from those case studies have been included in this guide as
for attracting freight-related well, to better illustrate the material herein. A list of private sector
activities to their communities. corporations who participated in the interviews for NCFRP Project 23
is contained in Appendix A of this guide.
The purpose of this guide is to provide insight on location decisions
for freight facilities and suggest best practices for transportation,
land use, economic development, and regional partnerships to
public sector agencies and officials considering and responding to
freight facility development and location decisions. These agencies
can benefit from a full understanding of the dynamics of freight
movement and what factors affect private sector location decisions
so that they may successfully plan for, attract, locate, and partner
with freight-related activities in their jurisdictions.
Much specific freight-related terminology is used throughout this
guide. Although an attempt has been made to define many terms, it
may also be helpful for the reader to refer to the glossary of freight
terms contained in Appendix B.
2 Freight Facility Location Selection: A Guide for Public Officials
