System-wide | Aviation | Bicycling | Bridges | Freight | Highway | Parking | Pedestrian | Transit
Freight
Location, location, location
Plans providing for the movement of Chester County’s residents must also provide for the movement of goods and services through and within the County. Goods movement is an aspect of life that ranges in scope from food in a refrigerator to the global economy. Chester County is centrally located in the Northeastern part of the United States within 3 hours driving distance to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Washington D.C. This region competes with itself and the world positioned at the intersection of two major freight corridors. The North-South corridor is supported by I-95. The East-West corridor, moving goods from the Delaware River to the central part of the country, is supported by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Our location and strong economic picture make Chester County a strategic location in the movement of goods and services. Many economic development opportunities are available because Chester County’s location provides distributors with access to over 40% of the nation’s disposable income (9). This location is a major factor in the amount of freight that traverses the County, both by highway and rail. Trucks use our roads to get from the ports to major expressways such as US 30 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. While there are some internal freight movements by rail, the Schuylkill River corridor provides significant rail access to the North and West. Shippers rely on our major corridors to reach their destinations in a timely and cost-effective manner. The ability for roads to provide mobility and access is an important factor in goods movement. Boroughs along major traffic routes are impacted by truck traffic when narrow roads and multiple intersections reduce truck mobility. High truck volumes within the boroughs present additional safety concerns with bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Anticipated growth will strain existing road and rail systems.
Goods movement is essential to provide us with the commodities that we need. The FHWA predicts “by the year 2020, at even moderate rates of economic growth, the total domestic tonnage of freight carried by all US freight systems will increase 67% and international trade will nearly double.” This anticipated growth will strain existing road and railroad systems. Population growth and our service-oriented economy contribute to the need for more goods. Commercial retail services require frequent deliveries to manage the appropriate inventory levels needed to provide quality customer service, as well as reduce dollars tied up by inventory.
The increasing potential for port activity in Philadelphia and Wilmington will impact Chester County roads and railroads. Demand on East Coast ports is increasing due to freight congestion at West Coast ports. There is also a global manufacturing shift from Asia to Malaysia. Freight vessels that can’t fit through the Panama Canal will port on the East Coast via the Suez Canal in Egypt. Dredging the Delaware River will help the region stay competitive in the international marketplace.
Current infrastructure impedes the movement of goods by truck.
Although rail freight is projected to increase, trucks continue to be the dominant mode. Transportation planning aims to improve safety on our roadways, reduce congestion, and improve air quality. The roads in the National Highway System (NHS) represent key arteries of nation’s transportation network (10). The entire NHS system in Chester County includes US 1, PA 3, US 30 PA 41, PA 100, US 202, PA 252, US 322, US 422 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. These routes are used primarily for mobility while other roads are used to deliver goods to their final destination. The presence of heavy truck volumes traveling along our major corridors requires the need to address safety concerns.
Roads that carry higher volumes of trucks require more frequent improvements due to the impacts of the gross vehicle weight (GVW) (11). Heavier GVW increases the cost of highway and bridge maintenance but reduces miles driven and gallons of fuel consumed. The increasing size and weight of trucks requires planning for more durable roads, wider turning radii, sufficient bridge capacity, and appropriate height of underpasses. Some existing intersections, road geometry, and steep grades impede on goods movement.
Other issues arise as trucks deliver goods within our communities. Truck traffic around generators such as quarries, landfills and business centers impacts local roads. Congestion occurs on major roadways in urban areas when trucks are forced to load/unload from the street. In recent years, local delivery services have grown with the dramatic increase of online and television sales, in addition to the demand for express shipping. Smaller delivery trucks used by vendors, retailers, and package delivery companies have the ability to quickly access destinations for picking-up and dropping-off.
There is a need to safely move goods by rail.
Rail freight presents many opportunities to improve future goods movement. A freight train can help reduce congestion and improve air quality by taking 150 or more trucks off of the road. Rail freight is beneficial for trips greater than 500 miles and for moving heavier loads such as coal or oil. Goods shipped by sea are typically carried in large metal containers that can be quickly transferred to a truck trailer or rail car. Double-stacking two containers, one on top of another, increases the productivity of rail freight.
Chester County has experienced a loss of significant rail infrastructure and improvements are needed to maintain the existing system. Much of the existing short line rail infrastructure is not capable of handling the heavier freight cars that are becoming the industry standard. Various at-grade crossings throughout the County have safety needs and conflicts for emergency services. Most of the bridges over rail lines do not allow the necessary height for double-stacking. Limiting double-stacked trains can create delays and longer trains. Short line infrastructure requires capital and maintenance funds to address these issues.
Interagency coordination will become essential as the decreasing number of track miles are occupied by increased passenger rail service and goods movement. Differing needs produce other concerns as well. High-level platforms at passenger rail stations improve passenger rail service but they may be damaged by a passing rail car.
(9) Chester County is well positioned to serve over 60 million consumers who control more than 41% of the nation’s disposable income (A. Duie Pyle).
(10) In 1997, the NHS consisted of 156,986 miles, amounting to 4 percent of the total highway mileage which carried 45 percent of the vehicle miles traveled. (FHWA)
(11) The US DOT determined that degradation of roads/bridges from one 80,000 lbs truck was equal to 3,200 automobiles weighing 3,500lbs.
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System-wide | Aviation | Bicycling | Bridges | Freight | Highway | Parking | Pedestrian | Transit