Talking Freight SeminarsNovember 19, 2008

Caroline A. Mays, AICPAtlanta Regional Commission

Integrating Freight and Land Integrating Freight and Land Use in the Atlanta Region Use in the Atlanta Region

OutlineOutline

•Overview of the Atlanta RegionOverview of the Atlanta Region

•Key Freight and Land Use ChallengesKey Freight and Land Use Challenges

•Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan Land Use Analysis and RecommendationLand Use Analysis and Recommendation

•Lessons Learned and ConclusionsLessons Learned and Conclusions

Atlanta MPO Planning Atlanta MPO Planning BoundaryBoundary

Former 10 County MPO

2000 Urbanized Area

18 County MPO

Continued Rapid Growth Expected

2.02.3

2.73.1

3.73.9

4.24.6

5.1

5.66.0

1.21.5

1.82.1

2.63.0

3.33.6

3.94.2

2.7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

Population Employment

Population 62% Increase, 2.3 Million More People

Employment 65% Increase,1.7 Million New Jobs

6,000,0006,000,000

77,00077,000New People New People Each YearEach Year

________________________

2030Employment

4,200,0004,200,000

55,200 55,200 New J obs New J obs Each YearEach Year

2030 Population

Atlanta Region is the 2nd Largest Inland Distribution Market in US (tons)

Tons

Atlanta Region2nd Largest Inland Distribution Market in US

(tons)

Atlanta Region Total Freight Tonnage, Atlanta Region Total Freight Tonnage, 20052005

Total Commodities by Mode

for Atlanta, GA

87.44%

0.25%

12.31% Truck

Air

Rail

Truck Terminals Versus Business Location and Highway Network

Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use GeographyGeography

Distribution Business Establishments and Highway Network

Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use GeographyGeography

Manufacturing Sector Establishments and Highway Network

Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use GeographyGeography

Construction Sector Establishments and Highway Network

Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use GeographyGeography

Key Freight/Land Use IssuesKey Freight/Land Use Issues• Increasing the Consideration of Freight Needs in Regional

Land Use and Transportation Plans

• Conflicts Among Land Uses Constraining Redevelopment

• Emerging Land Use Conflicts

• Tools to Support Local and Regional Planners In Zoning & Site Plan Review

• Methods to Better Consider the Multi-Jurisdictional and Corridor Impacts of Freight

• Increasing Demands for Modern Warehousing and Distribution Facilities in Suburban & Exurban Areas

Importance of Freight and Land Use Importance of Freight and Land Use CoordinationCoordination

•Noise•Light•Air Quality•Safety•Property Values

•Quality of Life

•Mitigation Requirements

•Expansion Constraints

•Operating Hour Limits

•Limited Options to Enhance Logistics Efficiency

Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan

Land Use Analysis

Case Study Methodology For Case Study Methodology For Examining Freight/Land Use IssuesExamining Freight/Land Use Issues

• Conducted Site Visits

• Reviewed Existing Plans and Information

• Examined Interactions Among Land Uses

• Gained Perspectives on Freight Transportation-Land Use Connections

Case Studies

Atlanta Road-Marietta Blvd Activity Area

Fulton Industrial Blvd

Fairburn Area

Gwinnett County Interchange

Development Area

Henry County W & D Zone

Freight Access Not Part of Freight Access Not Part of Urban/Site DesignUrban/Site Design

Major new mixed-use center with no loading zones, off-street truck parking or easy rear

access

Townhomes Backing to Commercial Townhomes Backing to Commercial Facility with Significant Truck MovementsFacility with Significant Truck Movements

Residential Influx and Proximity to Residential Influx and Proximity to Intense Freight UsesIntense Freight Uses

New Housing Adjacent to Large and New Housing Adjacent to Large and busy freight Facilitiesbusy freight Facilities

Preserve Freight MobilityPreserve Freight Mobility

Roadway Congestion, Safety and Usage Compatibility Issues

““Brownfield” Redevelopment Brownfield” Redevelopment PotentialPotential

““Greenfield” Land Use CoordinationGreenfield” Land Use Coordination

Coordinate Freight & Non-Freight Land Coordinate Freight & Non-Freight Land UsesUses

Incompatible Land Uses

Overburdened “Last Mile” Locations

New Subdivision

Summary of Case Studies ResultsSummary of Case Studies Results

• Preserve Freight Mobility as Region Continues to Develop

• Coordinate Freight & Non-freight Land Uses and Mobility Needs

• Ensure Adequate Segregation & Protection of Various Land Uses

• Build Goods Movement & Logistics Needs into Land Development & Site Design

Key RecommendationsKey Recommendations

• Plan in an Integrated Manner

• Provide Guidelines for Developers and Planners

• Enhance Local Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Processes to Address Freight-related Issues

RecommendationsRecommendations

Examples of Freight-Supportive Guidelines WhoEngage freight operators, shippers and receivers in the local and regional planning processes (“go to them”)

ARC, Counties

Develop requirements for buffers and/or transitional zones between incompatible land uses

Counties, Cities

Consider protecting undeveloped land adjacent to freight facilities

–Future freight expansion –Prevent encroachment of incompatible land uses through zoning, easements and/or purchases

Counties,Cities

•Long-range impacts of logistics activity locations•Planning, zoning, and policy tools to facilitate logical and community-sensitive siting of freight-intensive land uses•W&D development directed to locations with multimodal access options

Plan in an Integrated Manner - Look at Plan in an Integrated Manner - Look at the “Big Picture”the “Big Picture”

RecommendationsRecommendations

Examples of Freight-Supportive Guidelines Who

Develop delivery access and mobility requirements for developers of both existing and new mixed use sites

–“Logistics-supportive Design Guidelines”

–Address loading zones, street geometry, truck routes, etc.

ARC (others)

•Delivery/access needs built into site design and review process•Site layout and building design guidelines and templates•Adequate access for deliveries part of design standards

Provide Guidelines for Developers and Provide Guidelines for Developers and PlannersPlanners

RecommendationsRecommendations

Examples of Freight-Supportive Guidelines WhoDevelop and apply Warehousing & Distribution (W&D) Zoning Provisions to facilitate smart freight-supportive land use planning

Counties, Cities

Develop requirements for buffers and/or transitional zones between incompatible land uses

Counties, Cities

Provide training/education for planners and planning & zoning boards on logistics and freight issues and needs ARC

•Integrate freight access needs into process•Consider community impacts of logistics operations

Enhanced Planning and Zoning Enhanced Planning and Zoning Processes Addressing Logistics-Related Processes Addressing Logistics-Related

IssuesIssues

• Freight and Logistics Needs Often an Afterthought in Planning & Site Development Review Processes

• Designing for Goods Movement Improves Overall Mobility and Access

• Proactive Freight Planning is Critical to Regional Economic Vitality and Quality of Life

• Consider Freight Implications in Land Use Planning and Development Review Activities

• Plan and Design Newly Emerging Areas to Accommodate Freight Needs

Lessons Learned/ConclusionsLessons Learned/Conclusions

Lessons Learned/ConclusionsLessons Learned/Conclusions• Reflect Evolving Freight Transportation Needs and

Practices in Site Plans and Land Development • Apply Adequate Buffers and Mitigation Strategies• Design Existing and Future Transportation Corridors

to Accommodate Freight Needs• Consider Freight Mobility Needs in Corridor Related

Plans and Proposed Improvements• Build Logistics Considerations into Land

Development

Thank YouThank You

Caroline A. Mays, AICPARC Freight Planner

404-463-3285cmays@atlantaregional.com

Additional Informationhttp://www.atlantaregional.com/freightmobility/