United States-European Commission Urban Freight Twinning Initiative: Compendium of Project Summaries
Overview of Second Annual Urban Freight Roundtable at 2017 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

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Regional Plans

United States

Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan Update

The Atlanta Regional Comission (ARC) developed the Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan, which was adopted in 2008. It has provided direction for freight planning and implementation throughout the Atlanta region. The Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan Update was adopted in June 2016, and is an update of the original plan. Its primary purpose is to identify and prioritize freight infrastructure projects needed in the Atlanta region, incorporate those projects into other regional plans, analyze locations with the most freight activity, evaluate freight performance in the region, and identify other freight planning needs.

A rail freight yard in northwestern Atlanta.
Source: Atlanta Regional Commission.

Project Type

MPO Policy Document

Period of Performance

Ongoing

Project Site(s)

Atlanta Metropolitan Planning Organization’s planning area

Website

https://atlantaregional.org/freighttransportation/

Contact

Daniel Studdard
Atlanta Regional Commission
(470) 378-1593
DStuddard@atlantaregional.org

Challenges Addressed

• Mobility
• Infrastructure project identification
• Commodities analysis
• Freight land use

Expected Outcomes

This plan update identified major infrastructure projects needed in the Atlanta region, while also analyzing other regional freight issues. Truck parking was identified as an issue having an impact nationally as well as within the Atlanta region:

• ARC is finalizing procurement of a consultant team to conduct the Atlanta Regional Truck Parking Assessment Study in 2017.
• This study will focus on both overnight parking and truck staging needs near warehouses/distribution centers and major manufacturing facilities.
• The study will develop an inventory of existing truck parking in the region, conduct surveys with the trucking industry, analyze truck volumes on major roadways, and evaluate other data to identify where additional truck parking spaces may be needed.
• Recommendations will potentially include general locations where more truck parking is needed, additional communications technology that can assist drivers, and other potential ways to address this problem.

Stakeholder Involvement

Stakeholder involvement included local, State, and Federal transportation staff, elected officials, and private industry. This was done through ARC standing committee meetings, the ARC Freight Advisory Task Force, stakeholder interviews, and an online questionnaire.