A STUDY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PROJECTED INCREASES IN INTERCITY FREIGHT TRAFFIC

This study was conducted by the Battelle Columbus Laboratories (BCL) to provide the Association of American Railroads with a look at the environmental impacts in the United States which can arise as a consequence of projected future increases in intercity freight traffic and which will depend upon the share of this increase that will be carried by the American railroad industry. Of principal concern is a comparison of the impacts of railroads and intercity motor trucks, since it can be assumed that the railroads must compete more directly with the trucking industry than with water carrier pipelines, or airlines for the market increases. A comprehensive analysis of all environmental impacts of transportation of freight would require the identification and categorization of all of the possible interactions between the transportation activities and the major environmental sectors. A quantitative evaluation of each of these impacts should then be obtained and an appropriate integration of the individual impacts should be performed to provide an understanding of the effects of transportation activities on the environment. This study constituted the first step of such a comprehensive study, and consisted of an initial analysis and evaluation of a number of the more important impacts of rail and truck transportation. Comparisons were developed between the impacts of rail transportation and truck transportation to establish perspectives of decision making within the railroad industry.

• Corporate Authors:

  Battelle Columbus Laboratories

  505 King Avenue
  Columbus, OH  United States  43201
• Authors:
  • Creswick, F A
  • Dee, N
  • Drobny, N L
  • Flinn, J E
  • Lemmon Jr, A W
  • Mcginnis, J T
  • Mezey, E J
  • Nathan, R A
  • Wetherbee, J K
  • Wright, J J
  • Sachsel, G F
• Publication Date: 1971-6-15

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 46 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environmental protection; Freight service; Network analysis (Planning); Transportation; Transportation planning
• Subject Areas: Environment; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051355
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 17 1974 12:00AM