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Urban Goods Movement and Urban Form

Posted by aditya | 7:12 PM | Urban Transportation | 1 comments »

Until World War II, raw materials entering urban transportation areas were usually carried by railroad to near-in factories. Finished products not consumed locally then left by rail. Goods for local consumption also came by rail to warehouses near the downtown area. Distribution was at first by horse-drawn vehicles and later by small truck to nearby retail outlets. Now the outward explosion of cities and the motor truck have changed all this. Far fewer rail deliveries go to close-in factories or warehouses. In fact, in some cities rail lines and their downtown terminals have been abandoned. Instead, rail roads and, increasingly, heavy trucks deliver goods originating elsewhere to factories or terminals located in outlying areas. Such products as now enter the close-in areas are first transferred to smaller, more easily maneuverable vans and trucks for delivery. But this is often difficult. At the same time, outlying shopping centers have become more competitive as costs of serving them with goods from other areas or outlying warehouses are lowered. In sum, change in the costs of moving freight and other goods in urban areas has been a strong force in suburbanizing. cities. And this may be a major obstacle to efforts to make the cities more compact.