Implications of Intermodal Freight Movements for Infrastructure Access, Capacity, and Productivity

1996Project Memorandum; Mar 1994- Mar 1996PDFTech ReportDOT-VNTSC-RS667-PM-96-11RS667/P6015Intermodal transportationIntermodal terminalsTransportation corridorsFreight trafficIntermodal servicesDeregulationMiddle Atlantic StatesJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)Norris, Bahar B.Haines, Marsha J.John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Policy DevelopmentAGR-FREIGHT-FREIGHTAGR-FREIGHT-Intermodal Freight TransportationNTL-FREIGHT-FREIGHTNTL-FREIGHT-Freight Economics and FinanceNTL-FREIGHT-IntermodalismNTL-FREIGHT-Freight Planning and PolicyVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterThis report evaluates the status of intermodal freight in the U.S. with reference to infrastructure access problems such as inadequate highway connectors and facility clearance, and terminal capacity constraints affecting levels of service. Though the overall performance of the intermodal freight system is impacted negatively by access and capacity impediments, the study findings point to a significant congestion alternative, the study shows that intermodal operations produce only about one fifth of the VMT that would be generated by the trucking alternative. An array of solutions focusing on infrastructure improvement, institutional and deregulatory streamlining, and technological innovations are proposed to improve the performance of the intermodal freight system