North Dakota Strategic Freight Planning Analysis Phase II: 2006-2008

The Biennial Strategic Freight Analysis Program concentrated on North Dakota‘s freight growth and freight system over the last biennium. The goal of this study was to provide information pertaining to freight and freight growth as it has occurred over the past 50 or 60 years. The highway system that exists in North Dakota was developed long ago for lower freight volumes moving in smaller vehicles over short distances. A system of freight transportation and logistics that provides for the efficient movements of goods is the key to the economic health of the world, our nation, regions within the country, individual states, and communities and rural areas. North Dakota‘s inflation adjusted Gross State Product more than tripled from 1963 to 2005. Many sectors of the economy contributed to the increase in GSP. This dramatic growth in the economy results in large increases in freight. Tonnage of agriculture production more than tripled from the 1940s to present on a decade average annual basis. Factors contributing to the increases in tonnage include inputs that contribute to higher crop yields. Crop choices also contributed to higher tonnages. Changes from small grains to sugarbeets, potatoes, or even corn change the tonnage coming off the land. For instance 50 bu. wheat nets about 3,000 lb. per acre, but sugarbeets can produce 20 tons per acre or more, equating to 40,000 lb. Higher production has led to larger and heavier trucks on all roads, and these trucks may travel longer distances per trip. However, it should be pointed out that larger, heavier trucks may do less damage than smaller trucks hauling the same amount of product over a fixed network. This study provided information about the increases in freight over time. The data reveal the needs for the infrastructure that was developed some 50 to 80 years ago. As freight traffic increases so does the need for infrastructure. Transportation is the core of many of the businesses in the state, and without improving the infrastructure future growth may be hampered. The agricultural sector will continue to grow along with the oil and gas and mining. As these sectors grow so will all aspects of the economy.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=683
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052

  North Dakota Department of Transportation

  608 East Boulevard Avenue
  Bismarck, ND  United States  58505-0700
• Authors:
  • Berwick, Mark
  • Lofgren, Mark
• Publication Date: 2009-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 90p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agriculture; Freight traffic; Freight transportation; Strategic planning; Tonnage; Traffic volume; Transportation planning; Trucking
• Geographic Terms: North Dakota
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01448671
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 8 2012 8:46AM