Sustainable freight infrastructure to meet climate and air quality goals.

789278500Final report; 2/24/2009-2/29/2012PDFTech ReportCFIRE 02-090092-09-23Sustainable transportationAir qualityEnvironmental qualityEnvironmental impactsFreight serviceWisconsinNational Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (U.S.)Bickford, EricaHolloway, TraceyNational Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (U.S.)Wisconsin. Dept. of TransportationNTL-FREIGHT-Freight Planning and PolicyNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Environment ImpactsNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Air QualityUS Transportation CollectionThis report examines the potential for freight modal shift from truck-to-rail in the upper Midwestern U.S.to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions. Two scenarios were generated, one focusing onintra-regional freight movements within the Midwest and the second on through-freight movementsinto, out of, and through the region. Freight truck and rail emissions inventories were generatedcorresponding to each scenario and input to a regional air quality model (CMAQ). Results showed theintra-regional scenario had little impact on Midwest air quality, however the through-freight scenariogreatly reduced concentrations of NO2 and EC near roadways (up to 27% for NO2 and up to 16% forEC), with corresponding increases near railways. The through-freight scenario also reduced CO2emissions 31% compared to baseline trucking. Reductions in PM2.5 and O3 were modest, up to 3%. Weconclude that while truck-to-rail modal shift does improve regional air quality, the motivation foradvocating rail over truck lies principally in reduced human exposure to near-roadway pollution, as wellas reduction of carbon emissions