Improving Intermodal Connectivity in Rural Areas to Enhance Transportation Efficiency and Reduce Metro/Port/Border Congestion: A Case Study
Record Type: UTC
Often agricultural commodities originate over vast regions (cotton belt) where low densities of production require considerable transportation effort to link the commodities into the intermodal transportation network. The complications for cotton are substantial since two-thirds of U.S. cotton production is exported, virtually all in marine containers. Because of underdeveloped intermodal linkages in rural areas, circuitous routings of cotton occur with potentially unnecessary traffic placed on rural and interstate connectors that link to intermodal facilities in congested metro centers (Dallas, Houston), congested border crossings (Laredo), and west coast ports (Long Beach/ Los Angeles). This study examines the opportunity and feasibility of developing an efficient intermodal network to serve rural areas in the cotton belt and concurrently measures the value of reduced traffic on highways and congested metro center arteries, border crossings and ports. A mathematical network model representing cotton transportation and logistic system that includes considerable detail regarding transportation (truck, rail, barge, ship) is being developed for purposes of evaluating scenarios that represent potential solutions to identified chokepoints. Potential solutions are being incorporated into the model to measure transportation efficiency gains, changing traffic patterns and its impact on highway maintenance costs, and congestion mitigation at metros/ports. Texas Transportation Institute and Department of Agricultural Economics are collaborating to evaluate gained efficiencies and congestion mitigation.
Start date: 2007/9/1
End date: 2010/9/30
Status: Active
Contract/Grant Number: DTRT06-G-0044
Secondary Number: 00008
Total Dollars: 60000
Source Organization: University Transportation Center for Mobility
Date Added: 08/16/2007
Index Terms: Intermodal transportation, Commodities by type, Bulk cargo, Commodities, Agricultural products, Freight cars, Freight traffic, Rural areas, Port congestion, Traffic congestion, Research projects,
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University Transportation Center for Mobility
http://utcm.tamu.edu
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
USA
Phone: (979) 845-2538
Fax: (979) 845-9761
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Tooley, Melissa S
Phone: (979) 845-8545
Fax: (979) 845-9761
Email: m-tooley@tamu.edu
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Texas A&M University, College Station
http://agecon.tamu.edu/
Department of Agricultural Economics
2124 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-2124
USA
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Fuller, Stephen W.
Phone: (979) 845-1941
Fax: (979) 845-6378
Email: sfuller@tamu.edu
Robinson, John R.
Phone: (979) 845-8011
Email: jrcr@tamu.edu
Park, John L.
Phone: (979) 845-1751
Email: jlpark@tamu.edu
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