IMPACT OF COAL TRAIN MOVEMENT ON STREET TRAFFIC FLOWS: A CASE STUDY

The impact of increased train movements through the city of Wilmington, North Carolina, on street traffic flows is evaluated. A comprehensive analysis involved a computer simulation of the city traffic flows based on traffic counts and other street geometric parameters secured by the Wilmington planning department. Sixteen critical railroad and street intersections plus major feeder streets were investigated in detail against three scenarios of train operations. These scenarios took into account train speeds, train lengths, and operating frequencies to transport an estimated 9 million tons of coal annually. Hourly delay figures were derived from the computer simulation runs, and total daily hours of vehicle delays were estimated. It was found that if unit trains are placed on the Belt Line, 453 to 730 vehicle-hr of delay daily will be added to the existing traffic-flow conditions depending on train speeds, lengths, and frequencies tested in the operating scenario. An estimate of public costs due to increased driving times for motorists was made. The result of the traffic simulations indicated a substantial yearly cost in vehicle delays to the public and that the speed of the trains is critical to minimizing delays in the traffic network.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1983/917/917-008.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACT+OF+COAL+TRAIN+MOVEMENT+ON+STREET+TRAFFIC+FLOWS%3A+A+CASE+STUDY&author=A.+Radwan&author=L.+Alexander&publication_year=1983
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on State Role in Rail Transport. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Radwan, A Essam
  • Alexander, Lee
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 37-42
• Monograph Title: Rail freight
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 917
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Coal; Costs; Freight trains; Impact studies; Intersections; Traffic delays; Traffic flow; Traffic simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Feeders
• Subject Areas: Finance; Freight Transportation; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381866
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309035600
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM