ATRI and FHWA Release Bottleneck Analysis of 100 Freight Significant Highway Locations

ARLINGTON, Va., May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today released the findings of their 2009 Bottleneck Analysis of 100 Freight Significant Highway Locations.  The research, which assesses the level of truck-oriented congestion at 100 locations on the national highway system, uses ATRI-developed analysis methods, customized software tools and terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion severity ranking for each location.  This research is one of the expanded capabilities of the Freight Performance Measures (FPM) initiative, which is sponsored by FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Operations and operated by ATRI.

Keith Bucklew, Director of Freight Mobility at the Indiana Department of Transportation, said, ''This type of analysis represents important progress toward incorporating real truck operations data into freight transportation planning and decision-making.  Without timely and replicable data, we will be hard-pressed to accurately assess the criticality, and needs, of the freight transportation industry."  He added, "I am optimistic these research findings will be well received by state DOTs."

This research utilizes GPS technology and truck-specific information, as well as sophisticated software applications, to assess the level at which truck-based freight was affected by traffic congestion throughout 2009.  While the general impact of congestion on freight is most significant during AM and PM peak travel times at a majority of the locations, there are several areas included in the study that experience slower than free flow speeds (which is set at 55 mph for this research) 24 hours per day.  There are also locations that, when averaged annually, have little or no congestion.

"The continued monitoring of freight-significant highways by ATRI and FHWA provides both the private and public sectors with the ability to identify and address deficiencies in the freight system," said Chad England, President of C.R. England North America.  "As this research moves forward, the myriad system performance measures that FPM generates will allow decision makers to prioritize highway investment in a way that targets critical needs.  Additionally, the private sector can use this research to identify opportunities for routing through congested areas."

For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 monitored locations, please click here to go to the report website.

ATRI and FHWA will be building upon the list of 100 locations for future analyses; if there are freight-critical transportation points that should be added, stakeholders can offer suggestions on the report website.

ATRI is the trucking industry's 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization.  It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation's essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

SOURCE American Transportation Research Institute