Project number: PSR-16-17

Funding source: Caltrans

Contract number: 65A0533

Funding amount: $75,000

Performance period: 1/23/17 to 9/30/17

Project description

This report presents an assessment of the Freight System Efficiency metric (FSE) which is being used to measure progress towards the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan (CSFAP) 2030 target of a 25% increase in freight system efficiency.  We describe the data and methods used to generate FSE, and consider the extent to which the components of FSE are comparable.  We then discuss the potential biases of the metric, and how these biases may affect measurement of progress toward the 2030 target.  We find that the components are not fully comparable and are subject to biases that can affect measurement over time.  We suggest that consideration be given to an alternative metric.  At a minimum, computation of the current metric should be modified to reduce biases.