Improving Intermodal Connectivity in Rural Areas to Enhance Transportation Efficiency: A Case Study

Congested roadways in Texas’ metropolitan centers are important arteries for transporting agricultural commodities into domestic and international markets. Truck transportation of these commodities contributes to the observed congestion and delay in these urban centers. As an example, cotton, which is a major field crop in Texas, is transported via Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston roadways to access container transport to the international market, the principal outlet for this commodity. This study examines the feasibility of investment in intermodal terminals in rural Texas with the implications for reducing roadway maintenance costs, greenhouse gases and truck transportation in Texas’ metropolitan areas. The analyses show an intermodal terminal in west Texas’ intensive cotton production region (Lubbock, Texas) would be economically viable, reducing loaded truck-miles on state roadways, C02 emissions, and truck-travel in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metropolitan center.

• Record URL:
  http://utcm.tamu.edu/publications/final_reports/Fuller_07-07.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University Transportation Center for Mobility

  Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Fuller, Stephen
  • Robinson, John
  • Fraire, Francisco
  • Vadali, Sharada
• Publication Date: 2011-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 46p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agricultural products; Carbon dioxide; Case studies; Container traffic; Costs; Cotton; Economic efficiency; Freight trains; Freight transportation; Greenhouse gases; Highway maintenance; Intermodal terminals; Rural areas; Trucking
• Geographic Terms: Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area; Lubbock (Texas); Texas
• Subject Areas: Economics; Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities; I10: Economics and Administration; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01342387
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UTCM 07-07
• Contract Numbers: DTRT06-G-0044 (Grant)
• Files: UTC, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 22 2011 4:26PM