Time, cost and carbon dioxide benefits – rescheduling urban freight operations

Abstract

Currently, road infrastructure reaches capacity limits during rush hour periods, resulting in severe congestion and bottlenecks. This is particularly true in urban areas. As road capacity cannot be extended to match projected traffic growth, innovative organisational solutions need to be developed. The research project provides a method for removing truck traffic from rush hour periods through a co-operative approach among road operators and industry. The method concentrates on rescheduling lorry trips in and out of urban areas. Traffic simulation is used to reschedule trucks, saving time and costs and reducing emissions. The first part of the paper gives an introduction and description of the developed method. The second part of the paper consists of the presentation of the effects and results of tested scenarios with this new tool. The method results in road capacity being used more efficiently while capital expenditure for road construction can be avoided or at least postponed. Furthermore, the elimination or at least reduction of congestion and bottlenecks leads to competitive advantages for industry, business parks and the entire urban area, and also benefits the environment. For all stakeholders, reducing bottlenecks and congestion within economic regions through organisational action is the task for the future.