A decision-making tool for a sustainable modal and spatial split of transalpine freight traffic

Abstract

Freight traffic through the Alps is growing significantly. The better adaptability of road transport to the requirements of production and distribution systems explains why the growth concerns essentially this mode of transport. The expansion of road transport results in increased air pollution, noise, congestion, and safety concerns. The advent of the concept of sustainable development has called current modal split of freight traffic into questions. To complete the approach of the sustainable development problem which principally focuses on the temporal dimension, looking for equity between generations, this research proposes a territorial approach, looking for the spatial dimension and the equity inside generations. In this context, this research project develops a methodology for a tool, which will help decision-makers to assess the vulnerability of crossed areas considering freight traffic volumes (on railway and/or road) and the sensitivity of the receivers present on the crossed areas or components of these areas. This generic tool will provide a global view of freight traffic impacts on crossed areas like alpine valleys. The development of indicators will be helpful to reach a more sustainable freight traffic system, especially for decisions concerning modal and spatial transfers of transalpine freight traffic.