New York City Arterial Goods Movement Study Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, Polytechnic University, and Cornell University Region II University Transportation Research Center and Region 11 New York State Department of Transportation March 5, 2003 New York City Freight Arterials Study What Impact Will Future Freight Transportation Needs Have on the New York City Interstates and Truck Routes FINAL REPORT prepared for the Region II University Transportation Research Center and Region 11, New York State Department of Transportation George List, Donald Geoffroy, Jeffrey Wojtowicz, Laura Koniezny and Chanda Durnford Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute John Falcocchio, Jose Ulerio, and Ali Afshar Polytechnic University Arnim Meyburg Cornell University March 5, 2003 Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge the help received from many people in the course of this research project. First and foremost is Peter King from Region 11, NYSDOT, who has contributed guidance and counsel that have been absolutely essential in understanding the purpose, scope, and context of the study, and ensuring that its focus, analysis, and findings can be most meaningful to the broadest possible audience. Supporting Peter have been Richard Hansen and Victor Teglasi, also from Region 11. Also critical have been Howard Mann and Kuo-Ann Chow from NYMTC and Alice Cheng of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, who have helped us with supporting information and guidance in the context of the Regional Freight Study, the modeling of the urban network, and the Cross Harbor Major Investment Study. Last, but certainly not least, we have to thank the people at Rensselaer who were invaluable in bringing the final report to closure, Marcia Hartnett and Jessica Josselyn. Table of Contents New York City Arterial Goods Movement Study What Impact Will Future Freight Transportation Needs Have on the NYC Interstate and Truck Route System? Executive Summary Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2 Setting the Context ......................................................................... 2-1 2.1 The Highway Network ................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 EZ Pass............................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.2 Parkways......................................................................................... 2-2 2.2 Rail, Water and Air Networks ....................................................... 2-2 2.2.1 Rail Network................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Water Network................................................................................ 2-2 2.2.3 Air Network .................................................................................... 2-3 2.3 Freight Flow Patterns...................................................................... 2-3 2.3.1 How Freight is Carried.................................................................... 2-4 2.3.2 More about Truck Trips.................................................................. 2-4 2.4 Use of the Highway Network ......................................................... 2-4 2.4.1 Overall Perspective ......................................................................... 2-5 2.4.2 Heavily Used Segments .................................................................. 2-5 2.4.3 Truck Volumes................................................................................ 2-6 2.5 Summary......................................................................................... 2-7 Chapter 3 Evidence of Needs & Existing Problems ....................................... 3-1 3.1 Evidence from Agency Data .......................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Delays ............................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.2 Congestion ...................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.3 Pavement Conditions ...................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Physical Restrictions....................................................................... 3-4 3.1.5 Connectivity.................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.6 Access to Freight Complexes.......................................................... 3-5 3.2 Evidence from Prior Studies ........................................................... 3-6 3.3 Stakeholder Inputs .......................................................................... 3-8 3.3.1 1996 NYMTC Survey..................................................................... 3-9 3.3.2 JFK Stakeholders .......................................................................... 3-10 3.3.3 Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation ....................... 3-10 3.3.4 United Parcel Service.................................................................... 3-11 3.4 Truck Needs Versus the TIP (Transportation Improvement Program)........................................ 3-12 3.5 Summary....................................................................................... 3-13 Table of Contents i Chapter 4 Methodology .................................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Model Description ......................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Existing Conditions ........................................................................ 4-2 4.3 Model Validation ............................................................................ 4-3 4.4 Conclusions..................................................................................... 4-5 Chapter 5 Year 2025 ....................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Future Scenarios ............................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Year 2025 Traffic Projections ........................................................ 5-2 5.3 Findings........................................................................................... 5-4 5.3.1 Scenario S1 ..................................................................................... 5-4 5.3.2 Scenario S2 ..................................................................................... 5-5 5.3.3 Scenario S3 ..................................................................................... 5-6 5.3.4 Scenario S4 ..................................................................................... 5-9 5.3.5 Scenario S5 ................................................................................... 5-10 5.4 Overarching Trends ...................................................................... 5-11 5.5 Concluding Remarks..................................................................... 5-12 Chapter 6 Non-Capital Enhancement Options ............................................... 6-1 6.1 Geometric Restrictions on Truck Use ............................................ 6-1 6.1.1 Current New York City Regulations .............................................. 6-2 6.1.2 Vertical Clearances ......................................................................... 6-3 6.1.3 Other Jurisdictions .......................................................................... 6-3 6.1.3.1 New York State Department of Transportation.............................. 6-3 6.1.3.2 Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority....................................... 6-4 6.1.3.3 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey................................. 6-5 6.1.4 Impact of the Restricted Truck Network ........................................ 6-6 6.1.5 Conclusions and Recommendations about Truck Dimensions....... 6-7 6.2 Commercial Vehicles on Parkways ................................................ 6-8 6.2.1 Possible Mitigating Solutions ......................................................... 6-8 6.2.2 Findings and Recommendations Regarding Trucks on Parkways.6-10 Chapter 7 Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................. 7-1 7.1 Stakeholder Input............................................................................ 7-1 7.2 Previous Studies ............................................................................. 7-2 7.3 Present and Future Conditions........................................................ 7-3 7.4 Non-Capital Measures .................................................................... 7-5 7.5 Recommendations........................................................................... 7-6 Appendix A Support for Chapter 2 Figures..................................................... A-1 Appendix B Support for Figure 3-8...................................................................B-1 Appendix C Prior Studies..................................................................................C-1 Table of Contents ii Appendix D NYMTC Survey Results.............................................................. D-1 Appendix E Mathematical Description of the Model........................................E-1 Appendix F Network Model Data.....................................................................F-1 Appendix G Cost of Adding Capacity to the System....................................... G-1 Appendix H Additional Maps for Year 2000 and Year 2025 Model Runs...... H-1 Table of Contents iii Tables and Figures Chapter