Goods movement is a term used to describe the way goods are transported by truck, train, ship, and plane. Not only is goods movement vital to the health of the country’s economy, it impacts the health of its citizens. California’s roadways carry more commercial vehicle truck traffic than any other state, and almost all of these trucks run on diesel.  Diesel exhaust has serious effects on human health; it is classified by California as a carcinogen and contains 40 hazardous air pollutants listed by the U.S. EPA.  Moreover, of all transportation sources, heavy-duty vehicles generate 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and are therefore a significant contributor to global warming.

IMR’s goods movement projects are aimed at researching innovative solutions to reduce the negative environmental and health impacts associated with getting products from Point A to Point B. Currently, IMR’s projects include smart parking for trucks and virtual weigh stations. 

Improving transit connections through innovative mobility options such as carsharing, smart parking, the EasyConnect program, and ridesharing can make seamless door-to-door connectivity a viable option for consumers.  These modes of transportation help get people out of their individual cars and into public transit or carpooling. IMR’s research is focused on improving transit connections because of the many benefits that result. Reducing the number of trips made by single occupancy vehicles eases traffic congestion, saves energy because less fuel is used, and cuts down on air pollution.

Some segments of society face certain challenges to mobility that others in the general population do not. In the transportation arena, special populations can include immigrants, racial or ethnic groups, older people, and people with disabilities. IMR’s current research is examining special populations’ travel patterns to see what can be done to remove any mobility barriers they may face and to enhance their mobility.  IMR’s past projects in this area explored extending safe travel for older people.  

Concerned citizens across the country are speaking up about the role of land use and transportation planning. They’re asking government officials how proposed new highways and alternatives to highways, such as transit and road pricing, will affect their communities, the air their children will breathe, and the amount of time they will spend in traffic commuting to work.

As a result, over the past ten years, regional “visioning” analyses have become increasingly important. Visioning refers to scenarios that allow stakeholders to explore how their community goals can be achieved through alternative futures, rather than just one point-estimate of the future. A visioning exercise may include a no-build scenario, a highway-oriented scenario, a transit-oriented scenario, a pricing scenario, or some combination of elements of alternative scenarios.

IMR researchers are exploring alternative futures using a range of advanced land use, transportation, and emissions models. Researchers are currently studying the environmental justice implications of “smart growth” versus urban sprawl, and the uncertainty in models used in transportation, land use, and air quality planning.  Past research has included: smart growth, investment, and travel pricing; carsharing and carfree housing; advanced transit and highways; and the Smart Mobility Model project.

The term Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) involves applying advanced technologies, such as electronics, communications, and information processing to vehicles and transportation infrastructure.  ITS is an important research area for IMR because it shows great potential for improving safety and transportation efficiency, facilitating management of transportation systems, and influencing individual choices of mode, rate and travel time. ITS also is important because it can have a positive impact on the environment. ITS technologies can reduce diesel truck idling and unnecessary driving to search for parking, thereby cutting back on air pollution and reducing fuel consumption.

Some of the ITS technologies IMR is closely examining include virtual weigh stations, automated speed enforcement, changeable message signs and safety messages, and Wi-Fi at roadside rest stops. Past IMR ITS projects have included California’s Innovative Corridors Initiative.