A NETWORK SIMULATION OF HIGH-CONGESTION ROAD-TRAFFIC FLOWS IN CITIES WITH MARINE CONTAINER TERMINALS

Port cities where marine cargo terminals are located are generally nea r urban areas characterized by high-congestion road traffic. Changes i n cargo traffic volumes into a marine terminal, or in the surrounding traffic arteries, which carry this traffic, can significantly affect t he terminal's operations. Conversely, activity at the terminal can hav e an impact on the traffic levels and congestion for a considerable di stance from the terminal, This paper demonstrates a methodology useful for studying the impact of road traffic flows on marine container ter minals located in highly congested areas. This model was developed at the request of the Virginia Center for world Trade and was used to ans wer three planning questions in the port of Hampton Roads, Virginia, U SA-what would be the impact of: opening a new section of interstate hi ghway, a projected doubling of container traffic at one terminal, and a daily unit train in the vicinity of another terminal. The problem wa s made more challenging by limited data-collection funds, None the les s, the model was deemed valid by a panel of traffic experts and offici als from several major state and private agencies involved in marine t raffic management. The model results were subsequently a factor in two major decisions related to terminal management.