TSM: What to do About Urban Goods Movement?

Although a significant body of information regarding urban goods movements has evolved over the past ten years, there is still much to be accomplished if the announced intention of the Secretary of Transportation—that all regional transportation planning must address urban goods movements—is to be realized. Research in the early 1970s outlined problems and potential solutions which have been substantially verified in more recent studies, but still no systematic planning approach exists. Transportation systems management (TSM) has been promoted since 1975 and has become a component of the urban transportation planning (UTP) process. However, urban goods movement, as a part of local TSM actions, has only received limited consideration and study. After a review of these developments, the issue of integrating urban goods movement into TSM planning of activities is addressed, and certain probable developments of the 1980s, which will further enhance the importance of urban goods movement, are examined.