Research project MD/DD/01 (Research action MD)
Research objective
(1) to provide policy tools
The project intends to provide a set of policy tools that will make it possible to identify, quantify and valorise the external effects of increasing goods traffic.
In the modules of the ‘Sustainable Mobility’ programme, this set of tools may, after some adaptation, also be used for simulations and computations of the impact of certain policy measures concerning sustainable mobility.
(2) the valorisation of scientific and financial investments in the ‘Transport and Mobility’ Impulse Programme.
The starting point of this project is the Multimodal Interregional Model (MIM) which was developed under the ‘Transport and Mobility’ impulse programme. The MIM will be adapted where necessary and linked to a more detailed network, NODUS, and a geographical information system (GIS).
The aim is to integrate this set of models and to add to it a module that calculates the external effects of goods traffic.
(3) to strengthen the presence of the Belgian research world on the international scientific forum
The research teams are already actively present in the international research world (e.g. participation in European research programmes, research collaboration with Eastern European research teams, invitations from CEMT,...). This position can however be further enhanced by this project, as it also devotes specific attention to the European transport network. The development of a pan-European network that incorporates both the private and the social costs allows one to study sustainable mobility internationally. As regards the European Union, one could thus obtain a clearer insight into the impact of Belgian and European measures aimed at combating the negative effects of increasing goods traffic. The methodology employed in this project may also be extended to a broader European context. Obviously, the intention is to arrive at as many international publications as possible. Also, the presence at national and international conferences, and especially the 8th World Conference on Transport Research, will be encouraged.
Methodology
Part 1: The effects of increasing goods traffic on mobility and safety
In this part, an attempt will be made to identify and quantify the external effects of goods traffic on mobility and safety. Additionally, this will lead to an instrument which enables policy-makers to calculate the external effects of goods traffic on mobility and safety in scientifically sound manner and which can be used when intervening in goods traffic. A typical example of this is the incorporation of external costs in (higher) tariffs or restricting the use of certain routes for goods transport. This will be realised in different phases.
- Phase 1 : Description, analysis and prognoses of goods transport in Belgium and in relation to the European network
A three-pronged approach will be used, involving a Multimodal Interregional Model (MIM), NODUS and a Geographic Information System (GIS). By means of the MIM, we shall determine on which axes of the Belgian transport network goods traffic is concentrated, what is the balance between the various transport modes, how the share of goods transport by road will evolve given a number of policy options. The NODUS software package allows one to break down transport flows into a number of consecutive operations. This has been achieved by the creation of virtual relations that correspond to each operation: loading, unloading, shipping and transfer for each of the different modes and types of transport. Given the considerable size of the trans-European network and the heterogeneity that exists amongst the different countries, work is underway on the configuration of the network and the specification of the transport costs. In order to optimise the external effects for specific locations and the functioning of the road transport network in the Belgian context, the MIM needs to be coupled with a GIS. Special attention is due in this respect to the spatial analysis of the networks used.
- Phase 2: Identification of the effects of goods traffic on the environment, mobility and traffic safety
First we shall deal with the economic aspects of the impact of goods traffic on mobility and safety. Subsequently we shall consider the environmental components of these effects. Obviously, we shall not lose sight of the fact that there may be an interaction between the economic aspects on the one hand and the environmental impact on the other.
- Phase 3: The quantification of the external effects of goods traffic
In this phase, a link is established between the evolution of goods traffic on the Belgian transport network and the scope of the external effects generated. Attention will be focused on the effects with regard to mobility and safety. In this part, a module will be constructed that may be coupled with the results obtained in the first phase, so that it becomes possible to generate and calculate the scope of the external effects on the basis of prognoses regarding goods traffic.
Part 2: Consequences of the passing on of external costs
Once the external effects are known and have been quantified, the question arises of whether these effects should be passed on.
- Phase 1: An appreciation of the external effects
In this phase, we shall try and determine how the external effects can be translated into monetary terms. This remains a controversial issue amongst scholars.
- Phase 2: Confrontation between generalised costs and tariffs
This confrontation provides some indication of whether goods traffic bears its own costs or whether it is perhaps too cheap, as is often claimed. Again, insight into and modelling of the micro-economic behaviour of goods transport companies with regard to price setting are required.
- Phase 3: Consequences of the use of assessment tools
The output of Part 1 is useful for just about any assessment tool, including Multicriteria analysis and Cost-Benefit analysis. However, the different assessment tools do not take account of this additional information in the same way. The question thus remains to what extent this may lead to altered and/or different conclusions.
Potential users
Authorities (at different levels: federal, European).
NMBS, DRB, IWT, NNCB, port authorities, ITB, UIC, ECMT.
Link to Sustainable Development
See methodology: the external effect of goods traffic are identified and quantified. Subsequently, the passing on of these effects is studied.
Towards sustainable mobility: economic and spatial effects of increasing goods traffic: final report, task 1
Brussels: OSTC, 2001 (SP0842)
[To download]
Vers une mobilité durable: effets économiques et spatiaux d'un transport de marchandise en augmentation: rapport final tâche 2
Bruxelles: SSTC, 2001 (SP0843)
[To download]
Vers une mobilité durable: effets économiques et spatiaux d'un transport de marchandise en augmentation: Evaluation spatiale des réseaux de transport de marchandises en Belgique: rapport final tâche 3
Bruxelles: SSTC, 2001 (SP0844)
[To download]
Towards sustainable mobility: economic and spatial effects of increasing goods traffic: summary
Brussels: OSTC, 2001 (SP0845)
[To download]
