Performance-Measure Based Asset Management Tool for Rural Freight Mobility in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

MAP-21 establishes national objectives to increase productivity and economic efficiency of the nation’s freight infrastructure. The recent passage of MAP-21 has placed an emphasis on integrating asset and performance management tools to help transportation agencies better manage the critical transportation infrastructure. Infrastructure performance management expands the more traditional definition of Asset Management to include measurement and reporting of how those assets achieve their targeted operational objectives. While congestion and bottlenecks in urbanized areas readily, and deservedly, catch the attention of policy makers, many miles of multimodal transportation occur prior to freight trips arriving in (or accrue after leaving) urban areas. These miles and the ability to efficiently navigate them directly impact the productivity of the diverse freight transportation system. This project identifies and seeks to remedy performance measure gaps and freight mobility issues as they relate to identifying the appropriate infrastructure capacity to meet demand for both domestic and international economic competitiveness. Further, this research investigates and develops an applied methodology for determining the potential economic viability, including threshold analyses, of freight multi-modal facilities. The focus discerns the attributes, economic and physical characteristics and market situations that are associated with successful and viable facilities, thereby suggesting a framework for economic feasibility of either expanding or adding a freight multi-modal facility.