Freight Distribution Strategy
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4ABZ3 Freight Distribution Strategy Deliverable No.: 4ABZ3 WD2 Project Acronym: CIVITAS PORTIS Full Title: Port Cities-Innovation for Sustainability Grant Agreement No.: 690713 Workpackage/Measure No.: 4ABZ3 Workpackage/ Measure Title: Freight Distribution Centre Responsible Author(s): Rab Dickson & Nicola Laird Responsible Co-Author(s): Date: 23 November 2018 Status: Final Dissemination level: Public Cleaner and better transport in cities Abstract Not Applicable Project Partners Organisation Country Abbreviation Nestrans Document History Date Person Action Status Diss. Level 01/08 Nicola Laird First Draft Draft Internal 16/10 Nicola Laird Second Draft Draft Internal 23/11 Nicola Laird Final Draft Final Status: Draft, Final, Approved, and Submitted (to European Commission). Dissemination Level: PC = Project Coordinator, SC=Site Coordinator, TC=Technical Coordinator, EM=Evaluation Manager. Nestrans • November 2018 2 / 32 Cleaner and better transport in cities Table of Contents 1. Introduction and Background ..................................................................................... 4 1.1 Aberdeen in 2018 & the Future ............................................................................ 4 1.2 Previous Freight Work .......................................................................................... 9 2. Vision .......................................................................................................................... 12 3. Work To-Date ............................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Baseline Report .................................................................................................. 14 3.2 Survey .................................................................................................................. 14 3.3 Freight Forum ..................................................................................................... 15 3.4 Freight Advisor ................................................................................................... 16 4. Objectives ................................................................................................................... 18 4.1 Clean Air .............................................................................................................. 18 4.2 Efficient Use of Resources ................................................................................. 19 4.3 Provision of Appropriate and High Quality Resources .................................... 20 5. Action Plan ................................................................................................................. 21 6. Next Steps .................................................................................................................. 30 Nestrans • November 2018 3 / 32 Cleaner and better transport in cities 1. Introduction and Background Given the importance of the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, freight plays a very important role both in the city and across Aberdeenshire. This is characterised by the movements of both seafreight and roadfreight around the harbour and across the city. Additionally, due to the location of Aberdeen, and its remoteness from the other major Scottish cities, freight in all forms also plays an important role for the movement of other goods. Approximately 27 million tonnes of goods, excluding oil and gas, was transported in the north east in 2016. Whilst the presence of the harbour plays a major role in these movements, much of the movement is local to the region - as a result of which 81% of freight is transported by road. This density of roadfreight is notable given that, unlike any other Scottish city, some routes are made up of over 15% heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). This is particularly apparent on the southern entrance to Aberdeen towards the harbour where the concentration of freight is heaviest, with Wellington Road recording levels of HGVs that account for over 20% of all vehicles on that route. Due to this, and in light of concerns over emissions levels, especially particulates (PM₁₀) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) on Wellington Road, careful consideration is required over whether these freight movements are either required or desired in light of the new bypass due to open later in 2018. This will present a challenge given the unique geography of Aberdeen, the concentration of the retail units and the location of the main distribution centres already operating. In light of these challenges, this document seeks to provide a high level list of objectives and actions in order to take forward a distribution strategy that will both improve major freight movements within Aberdeen and the surrounding region, as well as present options for improving ‘last mile’ distribution that will help to reduce the impact on communities along the routes that currently experience the heaviest freight presence, whilst conforming to the aims of the Regional Economic Strategy. 1.1 Aberdeen in 2018 & the Future As of summer 2018, there are a number of major projects that will change the way traffic travels and moves around the city, and accesses Aberdeenshire. Whilst there are a number of opportunities that these will present, there are also a number of challenges. There are also a number of other features of Aberdeen, as well as current issues, that will need to be addressed in order to ensure that any actions taken regarding freight are successful. Current conditions affecting Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: Nestrans • November 2018 4 / 32 Cleaner and better transport in cities Situation Opportunity Challenge How this will affect freight Activity in existing There is a new Despite the new Any routeing harbour in the city harbour being built harbour, a lot of strategy that stops centre. Probability of outside the city traffic will continue to freight from crossing port user carrying out centre. need to access the the city could have operations in both Recommendation is current harbour and implications for those ports. that operations in its proximity to the accessing the both ports will remain city centre means harbour enroute. separate. Operators any routeing strategy Planned routeing via may take advantage will have challenges Wellington Road of increased space in in reducing could cause greater new harbour and unnecessary freight issues on a road that move operations. movements from is already seeing some of the city congestion and air centre routes. quality problems. Could look at potential consolidation strategies given the number of vehicles that access the harbour on a daily basis. Construction and Although aims to May increase road Banning of right turn activity at the new attract new business traffic travelling out of harbour will harbour. (Nigg Bay) rather than move between harbours if stop vehicles from Probability of existing business, both are served by travelling through increased traffic in there may be freight operators. Torry, however it area. opportunity to route This may lead to may also increase some of the road additional traffic on journey times for traffic away from the both Wellington vehicles travelling current harbour. Road and potentially between both Victoria Road. harbours. May also create Opportunity to look heavy freight traffic at potential on routes that are consolidation currently less used in strategies that an attempt to bypass benefit both congestion on main harbours. Nestrans • November 2018 5 / 32 Cleaner and better transport in cities routes to the new harbour. Congestion in and AWPR will route No certainty over May increase through Aberdeen. some of the traffic how much of an journey times for Potential to impact out of the city centre effect this will have. hauliers if routes are journey times (both as this will no longer AWPR may not changed – however positively and be the main route reduce some journey there may also be negatively). through Aberdeen. times for freight opportunities to vehicles. decrease journey The AWPR will also times. Need to create more access Congestion still a ensure that points for hauliers serious issue on communication is that may be closer to some corridors. transparent so that their destination. For Need to ensure that operators are aware those bypassing the hauliers know of the of any changes, the city they will no benefits of new effects and the longer need to travel routes. Need to possible benefits. through. dissuade from current inappropriate routeing. The location of There may be an Majority of hauliers Any changes to the businesses opportunity to create are concentrated on routeing or access in (including a central distribution the south entrance to the city centre could distribution point. Aberdeen, close to have a negative centres/hauliers) the city centre. John effect on hauliers as Lewis has a large it will be more difficult distribution centre to access stores and within the city centre businesses. and the access for Routeing as a result many retail units are of the AWPR may not ideal for larger lead to journey times freight vehicles, due being longer for to the historic city hauliers located in layout. the south of the city if they cannot cross the city centre. Current projects that will affect routeing and access: Project Opportunity Challenge How this will affect freight Nestrans • November 2018 6 / 32 Cleaner and better transport in cities Wellington Road Measures to improve The route is required May create further Study HGV efficiency are to meet a lot of congestion on a being