A Freight Analysis and Planning Model

This project links a newly developed method for estimating intra-metropolitan freight
flows with a widely used transportation planning software to demonstrate its feasibility
for sketch level regional transportation planning. We link the Argos planner, an
automated computational workflow, with the TransCAD transportation planning
software. The Argos planner was originally developed and tested with 2001 data for the
Los Angeles Region; we updated to 2007 data. The updated model results were
compared against the baseline model for the region. The linked system was used to test
three different policy scenarios: reduction in international trade, shift of freight from
truck to rail, and truck peak period pricing. The scenario results are plausible and
demonstrate the utility of the model for sketch level planning. A user-friendly graphical
interface was developed to allow easy use of Argos by practitioners. The linked model
would require additional development to be useful in professional practice. The
updating process is complex and requires expertise in both freight dynamics and
regional economic modeling. The modeling approach is unconventional, so would
require extensive training and technical assistance for use in public planning agencies.