Routes to Sustainable Goods Movement: How Local and Regional Governmental Agencies Can Plan for the Sustainable Freight System of the Future

Freight represents approximately 30% of transportation emissions, leads to significant quantities of air pollutants detrimental to human and environmental health, and accounts for 13% of all transportation-related fatalities in the United States. The objective of this research is to help local and regional governmental agencies plan for sustainable freight transportation to help meet ambitious climate, air quality, safety, and equity goals. Through expert interviews and comparative case studies of several cities or regional entities in the United States, which have recently developed a comprehensive program to establish a sustainable freight system, this research can help develop a toolkit of options to build sustainable freight systems. The research will also uncover common challenges and new opportunities faced by cities and regional entities to address the environmental impacts of freight. USDOT Priorities: The U.S. freight system is the backbone of US economy and a key component of US global competitiveness; yet freight movement is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants as well as a safety and health concern for many communities, especially disadvantaged communities across the nation. Local and regional entities play a key role in addressing freight negative externalities and building a sustainable freight system, but their potential is often underestimated or overlooked in theory and practice. By offering a set of strategies to plan for a sustainable freight system at the local or regional levels, this research supports several USDOT priorities and RD&T strategic goals in the areas of: Climate and Sustainability, Safety, Equity, and Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness. This research can help transform freight and climate planning practices at the local levels by identifying innovative strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of freight, enhance equity and community health and safety, and boost local economies.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $80970
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348328

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Mineta Consortium for Equitable, Efficient, and Sustainable Transportation

  San Jose State University
  San Jose, CA  United States  95112

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Principal Investigators:

  Alexander, Serena

• Start Date: 20240401
• Expected Completion Date: 20250331
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environmental impacts; Freight transportation; Sustainable transportation; Transportation planning
• Subject Areas: Environment; Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01913251
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mineta Consortium for Equitable, Efficient, and Sustainable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348328
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 28 2024 4:30PM