Performance Measures for Freight Transportation (2011) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 52-62
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 52... ...
As mentioned in earlier chapters, the availability of sound, consistent, sustainable data was an overriding consideration in the selection of measures for the first-generation Freight System Report Card. Although stakeholder interviews indicated a desire for additional measures, the measures selected for the report card were ones for which data are readily and consistently available.
|
From page 53... ...
Despite the number of sets that can supply some data, the report noted that "very little systematic data exists to inform decision makers about the economic impact, system bottlenecks, and supply chains flowing through freight systems that support Washington State producers and delivery of goods to consumers." In Texas, the authors of a study on potential freight performance measures summarized the state of current freight data for performance measures thus: Freight performance measures (FPM)
|
From page 54... ...
The study noted that factors such as the tire pressure of the test vehicle, speed of the vehicle, or the driver's strict adherence to the wheel path all influenced whether the data were consistent, accurate, or replicable between states. The General Accounting Office10,11,12 noted the difficulty of accurately assessing the number of truck-related fatal crashes because of inconsistent data reporting by the states.
|
From page 55... ...
The level of effort that was necessary for these two systems provides an order-of-magnitude example of the complexities facing the development of a comprehensive freight performance measurement system. Freight analysis Framework case study The Freight Analysis Framework integrates data from a variety of sources to estimate commodity flows and related freight transportation activity among states, regions, and major international gateways.
|
From page 56... ...
A lack of clarity on roles, coupled with shortage of funds and lack of publicly available data at various points of the network, makes it difficult to have an integrated approach to national freight performance measures, they indicated. Fund shortages have led to the cancellation of funding for the Vehicle Inventory and Use Program (VIUS)
|
From page 57... ...
The index covers the activities of for-hire freight carriers, for-hire passenger carriers, and a combination of the two. The TSI has been active since 2002 but is still under development and is therefore experimental.
|
From page 58... ...
TSI source data. MEASURE MODE SOURCE Freight TSI Trucking American Trucking Association Air BTS and Carrier Websites Rail Association of American Railroads Water US Army Corps of Engineers Pipeline Energy Information Administration Passenger TSI Air Bureau of Transportation Statistics and carrier websites Rail Federal Railroad Administration Transit American Public Transportation Association Source: US Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Because value-added data is available from the Bureau of Economic Analysis on an annual basis only, weights are determined annually and applied throughout the year.
|
From page 59... ...
Data Considerations for the Freight Report Card Based upon the findings of the literature, the case studies, and the interviews with stakeholders, the following dataquality considerations will need to be addressed in the development of a Freight System Report Card. use common definitions for common understanding In order for stakeholders to generate and to use the data needed to create a set of national freight performance measures, there needs to be clarity regarding what each measure and each piece of data means.
|
From page 60... ...
While the importance of having high-quality data is intuitively clear, it takes considerable effort to ensure that the quality of data is maintained. Because the quality of data will have a significant impact on decision making, a process will need to be implemented to systematically ensure quality checks of the data being used to populate the freight performance management framework.
|
From page 61... ...
, ITS was used by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from mid-2001 until December 2003 to provide real-time freight information.15 The Port of Vancouver has also successfully used ITS to improve freight movement. In both instances, data quality and availability of data were among the items listed that required attention for successful deployment of the systems.
|
From page 62... ...
Freight Performance Measures Guide, 2006. 4 Mani, Akshay, and Jolanda Prozzi.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.