The freight study will consist of a freight assessment analysis, which includes a technical analysis of existing freight data. The objective is to develop a regional freight profile for the Gaston Urban Area including a GIS freight database by collecting all publicly available freight data, and economically feasible private data. 

The study partners will coordinate with the Metrolina Regional Travel Demand Model staff to obtain any existing freight information that is in the model for the Gaston MPO region, as well as any format specifications for new data so it can be integrated back into the model.  The team will then review and update any existing freight data from the model, as well as provide any new data that may be beneficial to the model.  All of this information will be provided at the Transportation Analysis Zone (TAZ) level.  Part of the study will develop a range of forecasts using the regional travel demand model, estimated growth rates based on the commodity distribution in the Gaston Urban area and historical growth rates to identify where truck volumes are likely to meet congestion in the future.  Included in this effort will be a comparison of truck flow information to the current location of truck routes to determine how well the truck routes match with forecasted truck volumes in the region.

According to the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the Piedmont Crescent Area, including the Gaston Urban Area, is the nation’s largest manufacturing region. In 2001, County Business Patterns ranked Gaston County as one of the top ten (# 7) Piedmont Crescent Counties, based on the number of manufacturing establishments.  The location of these establishments is also likely to be some of the largest truck generators in the region.  Estimates of truck volumes from these facilities based on the size of the facility and data contained in the FHWA Quick Response Freight Manual will be developed.  The goal in assembling all of the truck data is to understand where the heaviest volumes of trucks are in the region. 

The study will develop a regional freight system profile and characteristics of existing functions including physical characteristics, operational characteristics, and market characteristics of the regional freight movement system. The freight profiles will be on the regionally significant freight and goods system that support regional, state, national and international freight movement. The study will also identify and highlight priority freight, goods, and services movement corridors and networks in the region. 

Freight Study

• TOC

• Introduction

• Project Coordination

• Freight Assessment

• Strategy Development

• Public Involvement Plan

• Stakeholder Interviews

• Freight Presentation