Freight transportation travel demands are increasing on the existing highway system. Truck traffic, both "through (bridge) truck traffic" and local freight deliveries, has emerged as one of the major contributors to urban traffic congestion. One of the key obstacles in freight transportation planning and congestion management is the lack of truck origin and destination (OD) trip matrices. Assembly of these tables has historically required surveys of travel behavior, which have been limited due to the high cost of conducting these surveys. However, several algorithms, methodologies, and unique databases developed by the research team make it feasible to formulate an estimation model that can provide highly accurate OD tables for both freight and passenger travel. The proposed work will apply to the Central Mississippi Planning & Development District (CMPDD) and make recommendation on congestion reduction alternatives.
The objectives of this proposed project are to: