by Global Insight and Economic Development Research Group, for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, 2006

March 2007:  Economic Development Research Group and Global Insight, Inc. are co-principal investigators for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program study of interaction between rail and truck freight alternatives.

As truck traffic has become a significant contributor to road congestion in many areas, planners are seeking solutions to control congestion growth by considering opportunites to move more freight by rail. To examine this issue, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program funded a new study to examine the potential for increasing use of rail freight on congested corridors, and to develop a guidebook on how to assess those opportunities.The NCHRP panel selected the team of Global Insight and Economic Development Research Group to conduct this study.

The now-completed Guidebook and Report examine (1) the applicability and extent of rail-freight solutions for current and anticipated congestion, (2) key factors and stakeholders involved, and (3) obstacles and strategies to overcome them. Many of these issues revolve around the changing nature of the US economy and the freight flows it generates, as well as the different perspectives of public planners, business shippers and trucking / rail service providers.

The final product is a guidebook for assessing the merits of public investment in rail-freight solutions to relieve roadway congestion and for applying tools that demonstrate how best to incorporate rail-freight into urban and intercity transportation decision-making.

On March 21, 2007 Glen Weisbrod and Joseph Bryan appeared jointly on the Federal Highways Administration online seminar, "Talking Freight". Over 120 planning professionals participated in a vigorous online discussion that can be accessed through the Talking Freight website.

Guidebook for Assessing Rail Freight Solutions to Roadway Congestion (pdf, 776k)

Final Report: Asessing Rail Freight Solutions to Roadway Congestion (pdf, 116k)

Freight / Rail / Truck Slide Show, TRB Conference, January 2007 (pdf, 850k)

Talking Freight Seminar Series - US Department of Transportation