Research Projects
Start Date: August 2023
Funding: City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)
Project Budget: $15,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Summary:
The Urban Freight Lab (UFL) was approached by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to complete a review of proposed evaluation criteria and propose a data collection plan in preparation for the implementation of a Freight and Bus Lane (FAB) Lane in Fall 2024 for King County Metro's Bus Route 40.
The Urban Freight Lab (UFL) was approached by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to complete a review of proposed evaluation criteria and propose a data collection plan in preparation for the implementation of a Freight and Bus Lane (FAB) Lane in Fall 2024 for King County Metro's Bus Route 40.
Start Date: July 2023
Funding: National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Project Budget: $450,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Partner(s): ECONorthwest (Lead), Citifi
Summary:
The Urban Freight Lab (UFL) at the University of Washington is partnering with ECONorthwest and Cityfi to develop a research product for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) on the topic of revenue strategies for new mobility options. The team will analyze the public sector’s potential role in using revenue-related strategies to encourage or discourage new mobility options in personal mobility and goods delivery. The objective of this research is to develop a toolkit for transportation agencies that addresses how revenue-related strategies (e.g., taxes, fees, and subsidies) support policy objectives and shape the deployment of new mobility options. The toolkit can assist agencies to develop, evaluate, implement, and administer revenue-related strategies for new mobility options that transport people and goods.
The Urban Freight Lab (UFL) at the University of Washington is partnering with ECONorthwest and Cityfi to develop a research product for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) on the topic of revenue strategies for new mobility options. The team will analyze the public sector’s potential role in using revenue-related strategies to encourage or discourage new mobility options in personal mobility and goods delivery. The objective of this research is to develop a toolkit for transportation agencies that addresses how revenue-related strategies (e.g., taxes, fees, and subsidies) support policy objectives and shape the deployment of new mobility options. The toolkit can assist agencies to develop, evaluate, implement, and administer revenue-related strategies for new mobility options that transport people and goods.
Start Date: September 2022
Funding: Urban@UW
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Giacomo Dalla Chiara
Summary:
Food security, defined as access at all times to nutritious food, is a necessary condition for human beings to thrive and have an active and healthy life. In Seattle, about 13 percent of adults experienced food insecurity. Moreover, food security is not equitably distributed across the population. Food insecurity is more common in households with young children, with single parents, with incomes below 185 percent of the poverty threshold, in Black and Hispanic populations, and in principal metropolitan areas.
Food security, defined as access at all times to nutritious food, is a necessary condition for human beings to thrive and have an active and healthy life. In Seattle, about 13 percent of adults experienced food insecurity. Moreover, food security is not equitably distributed across the population. Food insecurity is more common in households with young children, with single parents, with incomes below 185 percent of the poverty threshold, in Black and Hispanic populations, and in principal metropolitan areas.
Start Date: January 2022
Funding: Bosch e-Bikes, Fleet Cycles, Gazelle, Michelin, Net Zero Logistics, City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Urban Arrow
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Project Manager(s): Dr. Giacomo Dalla Chiara
Summary:
With the rise in demand for home deliveries and the boom of the e-bike market in the U.S., cargo cycles are becoming the alternative mode of transporting goods in urban areas. However, many U.S. cities are struggling to decide how to safely integrate this new mode of transportation into the pre-existing urban environment. In response, the Urban Freight Lab is authoring a white paper on how cities can prepare for and promote large-scale adoption of cargo cycle transportation. Sponsors include freight logistics providers, bicycle industry leaders, and agencies Bosch eBike Systems, Fleet Cycles, Gazelle USA, Michelin North America, Inc., Net Zero Logistics, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and Urban Arrow.
With the rise in demand for home deliveries and the boom of the e-bike market in the U.S., cargo cycles are becoming the alternative mode of transporting goods in urban areas. However, many U.S. cities are struggling to decide how to safely integrate this new mode of transportation into the pre-existing urban environment. In response, the Urban Freight Lab is authoring a white paper on how cities can prepare for and promote large-scale adoption of cargo cycle transportation. Sponsors include freight logistics providers, bicycle industry leaders, and agencies Bosch eBike Systems, Fleet Cycles, Gazelle USA, Michelin North America, Inc., Net Zero Logistics, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and Urban Arrow.
Start Date: January 2022
Funding: University of Washington
Project Budget: $50,000
Summary:
This project brings together multiple data sources to better understand how different users interact with the curb, one of the most contested spaces in cities today. By combining perspectives on freight, passenger parking, and emerging mobility uses, it aims to develop new tools to help cities manage curb space more effectively.
This project brings together multiple data sources to better understand how different users interact with the curb, one of the most contested spaces in cities today. By combining perspectives on freight, passenger parking, and emerging mobility uses, it aims to develop new tools to help cities manage curb space more effectively.
Start Date: January 2022
Summary:
This project studies the Pedaling Relief Project in Seattle, a volunteer bike-based system that supports food rescue, grocery delivery, and pantry restocking. It looks at how cargo bikes move food between food banks, businesses, and community pantries as part of a last-mile delivery network. Using real operational data, the project examines how the system works in practice and where it can be improved. The goal is to better understand and strengthen volunteer-powered food delivery systems in cities.
This project studies the Pedaling Relief Project in Seattle, a volunteer bike-based system that supports food rescue, grocery delivery, and pantry restocking. It looks at how cargo bikes move food between food banks, businesses, and community pantries as part of a last-mile delivery network. Using real operational data, the project examines how the system works in practice and where it can be improved. The goal is to better understand and strengthen volunteer-powered food delivery systems in cities.
Start Date: January 2022
Funding: City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)
Project Budget: $60,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Project Manager(s): Dr. Giacomo Dalla Chiara
Summary:
In Phase 2 of the West Seattle Bridge Case Study, the research team will shift the focus from business establishments to consumers. In particular, we will explore consumer behavior, defined as how people choose to buy goods and services and where they buy them, to better understand residential demand and accessibility of goods for WS residents.
In Phase 2 of the West Seattle Bridge Case Study, the research team will shift the focus from business establishments to consumers. In particular, we will explore consumer behavior, defined as how people choose to buy goods and services and where they buy them, to better understand residential demand and accessibility of goods for WS residents.
Start Date: January 2022
Funding: Urban Freight Lab
Project Budget: $180,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Summary:
The Urban Freight in 2030 project explores emerging trends shaping urban freight and their implications for sustainable development. Drawing on the expertise of Urban Freight Lab members, partners, researchers, and subject matter experts, the project develops a shared vision for the future of urban delivery. The resulting vision documents outline key opportunities, challenges, and strategic priorities for urban freight systems through 2030.
The Urban Freight in 2030 project explores emerging trends shaping urban freight and their implications for sustainable development. Drawing on the expertise of Urban Freight Lab members, partners, researchers, and subject matter experts, the project develops a shared vision for the future of urban delivery. The resulting vision documents outline key opportunities, challenges, and strategic priorities for urban freight systems through 2030.
Start Date: December 2021
Funding: City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)
Project Budget: $32,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Summary:
This project will build upon a previous Urban Freight Lab study (funded by the U.S. Department of Energy) that was aimed at improving commercial vehicle delivery efficiency generating and providing real-time and future parking information to delivery drivers. In this subsequent study, researchers will build upon the knowledge developed and the existing network of parking occupancy sensors installed in a 10-block study area in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, to explore how historical parking occupancy data can be used by urban planners and policymakers to better allocate curb space to commercial vehicles. We will use data from the sensor network and explore the relationship between the built environment (location and characteristics of establishments and urban form) and the resulting occupancy patterns of commercial vehicle load zones and passenger load zones in the study area.
This project will build upon a previous Urban Freight Lab study (funded by the U.S. Department of Energy) that was aimed at improving commercial vehicle delivery efficiency generating and providing real-time and future parking information to delivery drivers. In this subsequent study, researchers will build upon the knowledge developed and the existing network of parking occupancy sensors installed in a 10-block study area in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, to explore how historical parking occupancy data can be used by urban planners and policymakers to better allocate curb space to commercial vehicles. We will use data from the sensor network and explore the relationship between the built environment (location and characteristics of establishments and urban form) and the resulting occupancy patterns of commercial vehicle load zones and passenger load zones in the study area.
Topics:
Curb ManagementThe Final 50 Feet of the Urban Goods Delivery SystemUrban Goods Delivery and Land Use
Curb ManagementThe Final 50 Feet of the Urban Goods Delivery SystemUrban Goods Delivery and Land Use
Start Date: January 2021
Funding: Urban Freight Lab, Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization (City of Fort Smith - Arkansas)
Project Budget: $102,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Summary:
This project seeks to examine how microfreight hubs can increase equity to services, benefit historically marginalized communities, and be joined to share micromobility options, social service agencies and minority businesses in North Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Urban Freight Lab will assist Frontier MPO and the City of Fort Smith in this work create a cohesive strategy to develop a sound planning process, to grow collaborative relationships, to produce a sustainable business model, and to implement a microfreight hub pilot project that leverages community resources.
This project seeks to examine how microfreight hubs can increase equity to services, benefit historically marginalized communities, and be joined to share micromobility options, social service agencies and minority businesses in North Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Urban Freight Lab will assist Frontier MPO and the City of Fort Smith in this work create a cohesive strategy to develop a sound planning process, to grow collaborative relationships, to produce a sustainable business model, and to implement a microfreight hub pilot project that leverages community resources.
Start Date: January 2021
Funding: Urban Freight Lab, New York City Department of Transportation
Project Budget: $56,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Summary:
(This project is being conducted under the Urban Freight Lab's (UFL) Technical Assistance Program, where UFL contributes to the project by providing 1:1 match funds in terms of staff and/or research assistants to complete project tasks.) This project focuses on conducting targeted freight industry market research to identify strategies that can support charting a pathway to zero-emission freight strategies for New York City by 2050 and identify the associated roadblocks and barriers to entry.
(This project is being conducted under the Urban Freight Lab's (UFL) Technical Assistance Program, where UFL contributes to the project by providing 1:1 match funds in terms of staff and/or research assistants to complete project tasks.) This project focuses on conducting targeted freight industry market research to identify strategies that can support charting a pathway to zero-emission freight strategies for New York City by 2050 and identify the associated roadblocks and barriers to entry.
Start Date: January 2021
Funding: Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans)
Project Budget: $180,000
Other PI(s): David Hurwitz (Oregon State University)
Summary:
This study will use a driving simulator to design a simulation experiment to test the behavior of commercial vehicle drivers under various parking and delivery situations and to analyze their reactions. The ability to modify the simulator’s environment will allow the researchers to relatively easily test a range of scenarios that correspond to different delivery and parking situations, such as changing road characteristics (land use, number of travel lanes, nearby signals, traffic in adjacent lanes), curb allocations (paid parking, commercial vehicle loading zones, passenger load zones), and other road users (passenger cars, ridehailing vehicles, bikes). In addition to monitoring behavior and decision-making, the simulator can also monitor distraction (through eye tracking) and the stress level of drivers (through galvanic skin response) when making these decisions and interacting with other road users. Analyzing parking decisions and driver stress levels based on roadway and driver characteristics will provide insights on travel behaviors and the parking decision-making process of commercial vehicle drivers, and will help city planners improve street designs and curb management policies to accommodate safe and efficient operations in a shared urban roadway environment. This study is intended to fill knowledge gaps and serve as a valuable resource for policy makers, transportation engineers, and urban planners.
This study will use a driving simulator to design a simulation experiment to test the behavior of commercial vehicle drivers under various parking and delivery situations and to analyze their reactions. The ability to modify the simulator’s environment will allow the researchers to relatively easily test a range of scenarios that correspond to different delivery and parking situations, such as changing road characteristics (land use, number of travel lanes, nearby signals, traffic in adjacent lanes), curb allocations (paid parking, commercial vehicle loading zones, passenger load zones), and other road users (passenger cars, ridehailing vehicles, bikes). In addition to monitoring behavior and decision-making, the simulator can also monitor distraction (through eye tracking) and the stress level of drivers (through galvanic skin response) when making these decisions and interacting with other road users. Analyzing parking decisions and driver stress levels based on roadway and driver characteristics will provide insights on travel behaviors and the parking decision-making process of commercial vehicle drivers, and will help city planners improve street designs and curb management policies to accommodate safe and efficient operations in a shared urban roadway environment. This study is intended to fill knowledge gaps and serve as a valuable resource for policy makers, transportation engineers, and urban planners.
Start Date: January 2020
Funding: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO)
Project Budget: $500,000
Summary:
This project aims to develop a city-scale dynamic curb use simulation tool and an open-source curb management platform. The envisioned simulation and management capabilities will include dynamically and concurrently controlling price, number of spaces, allowed parking duration, time of use or reservation, and curb space use type (e.g., dynamic curb space rezoning based on supply and demand). Researchers will design, implement, and test a curbside resource usage platform for fleet vehicles communications at commercial vehicle load zones (CVLZs), passenger load zones (PLZs), and transit stops, and perform demonstrations with stakeholder agencies and provide pathways to practice for promising curb allocation policies.
This project aims to develop a city-scale dynamic curb use simulation tool and an open-source curb management platform. The envisioned simulation and management capabilities will include dynamically and concurrently controlling price, number of spaces, allowed parking duration, time of use or reservation, and curb space use type (e.g., dynamic curb space rezoning based on supply and demand). Researchers will design, implement, and test a curbside resource usage platform for fleet vehicles communications at commercial vehicle load zones (CVLZs), passenger load zones (PLZs), and transit stops, and perform demonstrations with stakeholder agencies and provide pathways to practice for promising curb allocation policies.
Start Date: January 2020
Funding: Amazon
Project Budget: $50,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Summary:
Through synthesis of existing literature and interviews conducted with private and public stakeholders, this project aims to provide an overview of the barriers to achieving sustainable urban freight. The research will highlight key strategies that can enable sustainable last mile delivery in the urban environment and, importantly, outline the specific roadblocks to carrying out those strategies. This will help companies and public entities form sustainability plans and understand where collaboration between the two sectors in needed.
Through synthesis of existing literature and interviews conducted with private and public stakeholders, this project aims to provide an overview of the barriers to achieving sustainable urban freight. The research will highlight key strategies that can enable sustainable last mile delivery in the urban environment and, importantly, outline the specific roadblocks to carrying out those strategies. This will help companies and public entities form sustainability plans and understand where collaboration between the two sectors in needed.
Start Date: January 2020
Funding: City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)
Project Budget: $65,000
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Anne Goodchild
Project Manager(s): Dr. Giacomo Dalla Chiara
Summary:
Seattle DOT has engaged the Urban Freight Lab to conduct research to explore strategies to alleviate congestion impacts and minimize the disruption of goods and service delivery to West Seattle during the closure of the West Seattle High Bridge, which connects the West Seattle peninsula to the rest of the city.
Seattle DOT has engaged the Urban Freight Lab to conduct research to explore strategies to alleviate congestion impacts and minimize the disruption of goods and service delivery to West Seattle during the closure of the West Seattle High Bridge, which connects the West Seattle peninsula to the rest of the city.