2007 Research | Integrating Inland Ports into the Intermodal Goods Movement System for Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

Project Number:
07-01

Research Project:
Integrating Inland Ports into the Intermodal Goods Movement System for Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

P.I. Name & Address:
Mansour Rahimi
Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
Telephone: (213) 740-4016 [Rahimi],
FAX: (213) 740-1120
Email mrahimi@usc.edu

Co-P.I.s:
Ardavan Asef-Vaziri
Department of Systems and Operations Management
College of Business and Economics
California State University,
Northridge, CA 91330

Robert Harrison
Deputy Director, Center for Transportation Research
University of Texas, Austin
3208 Red River, Suite 200
Austin, Texas 78705

Project Objective:
The primary objective of this study is to provide a guideline for integrating inland ports into the intermodal goods movement system based on the containers originating and terminating at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (POLA/POLB). The project will provide a better understanding of the system based on the classification, needs assessment, and life cycle staging for the inland ports for the intermodal hubs and other trade processing centers.

An inland port is a site located away from traditional land, air, and coastal borders, designed to facilitate and process international trade by providing multi-modal transportation assets and promoting value-added services as goods move through the supply chain. As the private sector becomes more focused on globalization and efficient global supply chains, the use of inland ports is now emerging as an important option in the transportation community. Transportation planners are also recognizing that inland ports may enhance multi-modal trade corridors. In particular, busy sea ports, such as POLA/POLB, are becoming interested in connecting to such inland ports to alleviate the problems of congestion and air pollution at their port facilities.

Information for planning inland port infrastructure and its transportation network is critical because the infrastructure for handling cargo containers is owned by both by publicly controlled entities (ports) and private shippers and processors. Because of rapid increase in port container volume, the project also has implications for international trade and efficient use and design of the port infrastructure.

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the potential inland ports into the intermodal goods movement system with goods originating and terminating at the POLA/POLB.

Task Descriptions:
1. Information collection from stakeholders (Rahimi, Harrison, RA)
2. Identification of critical need variables and multi-criteria analysis (Rahimi, Vaziri, Harrison)
3. GIS maps (Vaziri, RA, Rahimi)
4. Produce final reports (All)
5. Publish and disseminate results (All)

Milestones/Dates:
September 1, 2006 – August 31, 2007

Total Budget:
$90,000

Student Involvement:
One Student @ 25% effort, 11 1/2 months

Relationship to Other Research Projects:
Related to 03-07, 03-18, 03-01, 06-11 part of goods movement and international trade focus area

Technology Transfer Activities:
Project report posted on the website

Potential Benefits of the Project:
More efficient goods movement; reduced truck traffic

TRB Keywords:
Freight routing

Primary Subject:
4b.2 Transportation and logistics system operations and management

Goals:
4c.3 Economic growth and trade

Enabling Research:
4c.11 Tools for modeling and design

Modal Orientation:
4c.13 Highway