Incorporating Infrastructure and Vehicle Technology Requirements, Changes in Demand, and Decarbonization Policies’ Considerations into Freight Planning

This report develops an equitable and sustainable freight-oriented land use (LU) methodology to support future planning activities, enabling the integration of freight activity across urban, suburban, and rural areas and facilitating the transition of heavy- and medium-duty vehicles toward zero-emission. The methods include a literature review to identify freight sustainable strategies, policy analysis at different scales, characterization of local context, and demand/supply patterns. The latter examines the spatial distribution and land use characteristics of freight facilities and retail/service sectors in the Sacramento region to inform sustainable and equitable planning strategies. This analysis identifies co-location patterns, accessibility gaps, and sectoral interactions using a multi-dimensional approach integrating spatial clustering, distance analysis, population-employment dynamics, and environmental burdens. Data sources include Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES), American Community Survey (ACS), CalEnviroScreen, and OpenStreetMap, alongside geospatial tools in R. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to address potential conflicts, service deserts, and environmental justice concerns. The study proposes actionable strategies for planners to support balanced economic development and improve access to essential services. View the NCST Project Webpage