Abstract

This is a study undertaken on behalf of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). There are two main objectives of the Freight Movement and Intermodal Access in Kentucky Study (SPR 98-189): evaluation of the access for trucks between intermodal or other truck generating sites and the National Highway System (NHS); and furthering the understanding of freight commodity flows throughout the state. This report summarizes the access evaluation for a cluster of facilities located along Bells Lane and Algonquin Parkway in Louisville in the KIPDA Area Development District (ADD) and KYTC Highway District #5. The location of the site is shown in Figure 1. Work on other specific sites as well as the freight commodity flow task are on-going and are documented elsewhere.

The sites to be evaluated in this study were selected from two existing databases (a truck facility survey from 1994 and the intermodal facility inventory) based on ADD and KYTC Highway District planner recommendations, geographic location, distance to the NHS, and the number of trucks accessing the site. Consideration was also made for the freight type handled and transportation modes used.

The site was visited for video recording and data collection as listed in Appendix A. The following facilities are located in the area: Ashland Petroleum, BP Oil, Carbide/Graphite Group Wharf, IT APCO Wharf, Thoroughbred Containers, Castro! Reprocessing, Miller Oil, BF Goodrich, Matlack, BASF, and Zeon Chemicals. Ashland Petroleum, BP Oil, and Thoroughbred Containers are on Algonquin Parkway, and the other facilities are located along Bells Lane as shown in Figure 1. All facilities are within one mile of I-264, which is part of the National Highway System. The surrounding area is generally urban with industrial and residential land uses.

A phone survey was conducted with facility managers early in the study process. While the overall response from industries was very good, in some cases facility managers could not be contacted or did not want to assist with the survey. In order to stay within the resources available for the project not all smaller facilities with lower truck volumes could be contacted. The phone survey found that the number of trucks per day at specific sites varies from less than 10 to 125. The most common trucks indicted were semitrailer tankers, and the largest truck indicated had a length of 53 feet. Surveys with facilities on Algonquin Parkway indicated problems with rough railroad crossings and poor conditions on 41st Street. Problems at the interchange included a blind spot on the eastbound off ramp and limited sight distance on the westbound off ramp. It was also noted that the railroad crossings on Bells Lane were occasionally blocked for up to 30 minutes at a time. The phone survey information is found in Appendix B.

Report Date

9-1998

Report Number

KTC-98-29

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.13023/KTC.RR.1998.29

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