Guidebook for Understanding Urban Goods Movement

Abstract

This report presents information and suggestions for improving public decisions affecting urban commercial motor vehicle movements for goods delivery. While many aspects of urban goods movement have been thoroughly documented, no single report provides a comprehensive, concise guide for public decisionmakers to accommodate and expedite urban goods movement while minimizing the environmental impact and community consequences of goods movement. The guidebook and cases studies will help decisionmakers understand the potential impacts of their decisions on urban goods movements among the following categories: transportation infrastructure and operations; land use and site design; and laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable to urban areas. The guidebook, with an accompanying overview for local officials and CD-ROM (CRPCD-105) containing the contractor’s final report and appendices (unedited by TRB), includes case studies of urban supply chains and how they connect to the urban economy, infrastructure, and land use patterns; the impacts of land use codes and regulations governing metropolitan goods movement on private-sector freight providers; and planning strategies for improving mobility and access for goods movements in urban areas. The CD-ROM also includes two PowerPoint presentations with speaker notes that transportation planners can use to educate local decisionmakers on how they can improve mobility and access for goods movement in their area.