01152455

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2162-04

http://scholar.google.com...yala&publication_year=2010

Escalating concerns about air quality in southern California have led authorities at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, also known as the San Pedro Bay Ports (SPBP), to adopt a number of measures designed to mitigate emissions. One way to do this is to shift some of the containers currently transported by drayage trucks to trains. This alternative is attractive because it would decrease congestion and air pollution on the area’s main freeways (I-710 and I-110) and the arterials that serve the SPBP. In addition, it would increase road safety along the busy Alameda freight corridor between the SPBP and downtown Los Angeles. One drawback would be an increase in pollutant emissions from train operations in the Alameda corridor; however, trains tend to pollute less than trucks per ton-mile, and new federal regulations are tightening the emissions standards for diesel locomotives. The goal of this paper is to quantify the net impact of such a modal shift on the emission of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), the two air pollutants of most concern in the SPBP area. This analysis relies on microscopic simulation to capture emissions resulting from stop-and-go traffic on the freeways serving the SPBP. It was found that emissions of both NOX and particles less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) can be significantly reduced by switching from drayage trucks to trains. This finding suggests that a modal shift should be encouraged, especially if there is unused train capacity and if the shift does not conflict with the shippers’ interests.

01174654

10-3311

English

pp 25-34

2010

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309142922

Print

Figures (3) ; Maps (2) ; References (22) ; Tables (7)

Air pollution; Air quality management; Diesel engine exhaust gases; Environmental impacts; Freight traffic; Freight transportation; Intermodal transportation; Microsimulation; Modal shift; Nitrogen oxides; Particulates; Port operations; Railroad transportation; Train operations; Truck traffic; Urban goods movement

Alameda Corridor; Port of Long Beach; Port of Los Angeles

Environment; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 25 2010 11:39AM

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