Factors Influencing Inter-Modal Facility Location Decisions: Comparison of Different Empirical Estimation Procedures
2017
Peterson, Steven
This study examines several different empirical models of inter-modal terminal characteristics using acombination of available data from the Surface Transportation Board waybill survey and Oak RidgeNational Laboratories national freight transportation database in the estimation process. Empirical modelsincluded ordinary least squares, fixed-effects models, and random effects models. The data also presentedissues of heteroskedasticity and autoregressive processes which are addressed in the paper. Due to thespatial context of the intermodal facilities, the data was also evaluated for spatial interactions andautocorrelation. Substantial evidence of underlying spatial relationships in the data were observed andnoted. The results of this analysis identify those empirical variables and characteristics that contribute tothe economic and operational sustainability of inter-modal facilities, and the relative importance of eachfactor. These assessments may then be used to evaluate infrastructure investment decisions, particularly bypublic entities. This methodology offers an unbiased framework for identifying and evaluating public andprivate benefits resulting from such investments, and serves as a guide for transportation policy involvinginter-modal freight.
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