RCE Peel - 2024

Estimating freight fluidity in Peel Region
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Estimating freight fluidity in Peel Region
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Peel
Contributing organization(s) : 
Peel Region, Smart Freight Centre, York University
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
RCE Peel
Organizational Affiliation: 
Peel Region
E-mail: 
rcepeel@peelregion.ca
Format of project: 
Report
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Web link: 
N/A
Additional resources: 
N/A
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
The study follows Long-Term Pathway 4 of Peel Region’s Long-Term Goods Movement (2019): Invest in Freight Data
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Local
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Canada
Location(s): 
Peel Region
Address of focal point institution for project: 
N/A
Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Peel Region is a regional municipality in the province of Ontario, Canada. It encompasses the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and the Town of Caledon. Peel is characterized by a diverse and rapidly growing region with a strong industrial and commercial base, and extensive transportation network.
Peel Region is a major economic hub, particularly in the logistics and manufacturing sectors, due to its strategic location near Toronto and its access to key transportation infrastructure. Peel benefits from its proximity to major highways which enable efficient goods movement across Ontario and into the United States. Peel Region is also home to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the busiest airport in Canada, which plays a vital role in air cargo operations and connects the region to global markets. This combination of robust transportation infrastructure supports Peel's role as a key logistics and manufacturing center, attracting businesses that rely on efficient access to domestic and international markets.
Environmentally, Peel faces challenges related to urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and air quality, but is also home to significant green spaces and agricultural areas, balancing urban development with environmental preservation efforts.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Peel Region faces sustainable development challenges such as balancing rapid urbanization with environmental preservation, mitigating traffic congestion, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from freight and passenger transport.
Additionally, ensuring equitable access to green spaces and transit, addressing air quality and health impacts, and implementing resilient infrastructure to withstand climate change are critical areas of focus for sustainable growth.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
January, 2021 to January, 2024
Rationale: 
This study is necessary to provide a comprehensive understanding of the arterial road network in Peel Region, focusing on both mobility (via freight fluidity measures) and safety (via truck collisions). By investigating the relationship between collisions and freight fluidity measures, the study aims to enhance both the efficiency and safety of transportation for all road users.
A key component of this project is the development of a visualization dashboard, which serves as a vital tool for decision-makers. The dashboard simplifies complex data into clear, comprehensible visual representations, making it easier for policymakers to grasp and analyze the intricate dynamics of freight transportation. This facilitates informed decision-making, enabling the implementation of strategies that can improve traffic flow, reduce collision risks, and optimize the overall transportation network.
Furthermore, understanding the interplay between freight fluidity and safety is crucial for developing targeted interventions that can mitigate congestion and enhance road safety. By providing empirical evidence and visual insights, this study supports Peel Region in its efforts to create a more efficient, safe, and sustainable transportation system.
The project also contributes to better mobility and safety outcomes, fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents.

Objectives: 
The following objectives guide the research:
• Identify the most appropriate freight fluidity measures and quantitatively estimate freight fluidity measures for the study area’s arterial roads.
• Collect data on collisions involving trucks and conduct a statistical investigation into the spatial association between freight fluidity measures and truck collisions.
• Create a user-friendly geospatial interactive platform using ArcGIS Pro to display the most congestion and collision-prone corridors in Peel Region based on the identified freight fluidity measures.
• Conduct a descriptive statistical analysis of freight fluidity measures and truck collisions to gain insights into the spatial patterns and temporal trends of truck travels in Peel Region.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
The research focused on arterial roads spanning multiple municipalities within Peel Region, specifically the City of Brampton, the City of Mississauga, and the Town of Caledon. Both major and minor arterial roads are analyzed in this study. The study analyzed mobility and safety issues using 2019 and 2020 data supplied by Peel Region.
The mobility data used in the study was obtained through the Freight Data Warehouse (travel speeds by time of day by road segment).
The collision data was obtained specifically for trucks travelling in Peel from the Region’s Open Data portal.
A freight fluidity dashboard is a tangible product created as part of this research. The dashboard is specific for Peel Region and incorporates freight fluidity and collision data. The dashboard provides a one-stop-shop for decision makers to visually analyze the freight fluidity measures (TTI, PTI, and BI) and collisions across Peel Region, and can help decision makers to make choices more proactively.
Size of academic audience: 
N/A
Results: 
The freight fluidity dashboard provides a practical platform for decision makers and freight logistics firms to make more informed decisions in an effective and efficient manner. The dashboard includes:
• Collisions by Location: spatial distribution of collisions, automatically updating numbers as users zoom in or out of the map.
• Variation by Municipality: analyze collisions and freight fluidity measures on a municipality level.
• Specific Road Selection: specific arterial roads for focused study on freight fluidity and collisions, enabling detailed analysis for the chosen road segments.
• Impact Categorization: categorizes each collision based on impact type and configuration, aiding in understanding the severity of collisions in different regions and the specific configurations contributing to these collisions.
• Freight Fluidity Measures: provide freight fluidity measures, allowing users to analyze either individual road segments or the entire region of Peel collectively.
• Temporal Variations: provides temporal insights by offering freight fluidity measures and collision data based on various time periods.
Lessons learned: 
The study suggests that a multifaceted approach involving collision and mobility analysis can help enhance the safety and efficiency of freight transportation. The ‘Freight Fluidity Dashboard’ is a tangible outcome of the study.
The dashboard also provides a platform for transportation planners to make informed decisions and allocate resources in a more targeted manner. It is expected that this study will help delivery companies to streamline processes, operate more efficiently, and reduce costs.
Key messages: 
Improving mobility and traffic management reduces congestion and collisions, enhancing transportation safety. Fewer collisions minimize congestion and delays on arterial roads. This study assessed the relationship between collision and freight fluidity measures, demonstrating that congestion increases the likelihood of collisions.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This project is an outcome of the Smart Freight Centre’s activities by York University. The Smart Freight Centre (SFC) has established a collaborative network with the Peel Region, McMaster University, the University of Toronto, and York University. SFC works to reduce community and environmental impacts of moving goods in the Greater Toronto Area.
Funding: 
This study was funded by Peel Region and York University.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes