The Effects of Transportation Infrastructure Investments on Freight Mobility: A Megaregion Perspective

University Transportation Centers Program2019PDFTech ReportWalthall, Rydell D.Walton, C MichaelUniversity of Texas at Austin. School of ArchitectureUniversity of Texas at Austin. Cooperative Mobility for Competitive MegaregionsUnited States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) ProgramUnited States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and TechnologyUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Transit AdministrationUniversity of Texas at Austin. Cooperative Mobility for Competitive MegaregionsTexasUnited StatesFreight transportationInfrastructureInvestmentsMetropolitan planning organizationsRegional transportationTravel demandMegaregion PlanningCM2-1069A3551747135September 2017 to September 2019Freight within megaregions comprises a large number of regional trips, but has received less attention from planners. This report shows how travel demand models that consistently handle freight throughout a megaregion can be used to plan for infrastructure investments or strategies to increase freight mobility. To do this, the Texas Triangle Megaregion is used as an example because it is mostly contained within a single state with an existing statewide travel demand model. Additionally, this report provides descriptions of freight data sources and emerging freight trends that planners without a freight expertise might not be familiar with.132