INTERMODAL FREIGHT HANDLING SYSTEM FOR NORTHEASTERNILLINOIS WITHITS COMPONENT (INTERMODAL FREIGHT CVHAS PROJECT)

摘要

This paper addresses the issues faced by local and state governments concerningincreasing traffic congestions, inadequate roadway design and traffic safety problems caused bythe freight truck traffic; on the other hand, the freight industry is seeking to improve productivityby having easy access and direct routes between the intermodal facilities and the interstatehighway system.The Chicago freight hub has always been a source of congestion and delay. In recent years, thegrowing volumes of intermodal container traffic have become a notorious problem for therailroads, for the trucking ('drayage') industry that moves containers to and from their ultimateorigins and destinations, for the local government that must cope with rail crossings and streetcongestions, and for the public that lives and works within the vicinity of Chicago freight hubarea. Much of the delay in the Chicago freight network occurs at the interfaces in the Intermodalsystem-where the rail meets the truck at the intermodal yard and where the yards meets the localstreet or urban expressway links-Intermodal connectors; with one third of Americas goods andproducts moving to, from or through Chicago-the area rail network is crucial to the local, regionaland national economy.An effort was made to study the intermodal freight problems and collect new data for use inseveral on going projects including the assessment for potential use of CVHAS (Co OperativeVehicle Highway Automation Systems) connecting the multimodal rail freight hub in the city ofChicago and its suburbs.Underdeveloped is an assessment for a potential automated intermodal freight interchange systemconnecting the multimodal rail freight hubs located in the city of Chicago and its suburbs.Various potentials for the use of vehicle highway automation technology applications as part ofan implementation strategy are in consideration.VATS simulation software is a unique simulation tool underdevelopment, which is used to assessthe various technologies in CVHAS, develop planning protocols for right-of-ways, anddemonstrate through interactive graphics the possible solution to the handling of freight.