The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities

This study provides an economic evaluation for a Land Ferry, which is a rail system capable of carrying trucks and all other types of vehicles, passengers, and cargo. The Land Ferry system involves a sliding loading system to roll heavy loads onto a flatbed; as a result, loading and unloading of all...

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Main Authors: Steve J. Merrill, Alexander Paz, Victor Molano, Pramen P. Shrestha, Pankaj Maheshwari, Haroon Stephen, Hanns de la Fuente-Mella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8180232
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author Steve J. Merrill
Alexander Paz
Victor Molano
Pramen P. Shrestha
Pankaj Maheshwari
Haroon Stephen
Hanns de la Fuente-Mella
author_facet Steve J. Merrill
Alexander Paz
Victor Molano
Pramen P. Shrestha
Pankaj Maheshwari
Haroon Stephen
Hanns de la Fuente-Mella
author_sort Steve J. Merrill
collection DOAJ
description This study provides an economic evaluation for a Land Ferry, which is a rail system capable of carrying trucks and all other types of vehicles, passengers, and cargo. The Land Ferry system involves a sliding loading system to roll heavy loads onto a flatbed; as a result, loading and unloading of all vehicles and cargo could be accomplished simultaneously. The evaluation for this system included (1) the design of a new track alignment over which the Land Ferry system would run, (2) evaluation of various sources of power, (3) estimation of how many local jobs the Land Ferry would generate, and (4) a benefit-cost analysis. It was estimated that the Land Ferry would create over 45,788 temporary jobs in Nevada during the three-year construction period and 318 permanent jobs during operation. The majority of the benefits were attributed to savings in travel time ($356.4 M), vehicle operating costs ($1000.4 M), reduction of accidents ($544.6 M), and pavement maintenance ($503.2 M). These benefits would be a consequence of the shift of trucks from the highway, thus resulting in higher speeds, decrease fuel consumption, and decrease vehicle maintenance costs. The overall benefit-cost ratio of 1.7 implies a cost-effective project.
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spelling doaj-art-d2ef1204215b49ebbcae3b3a684af64e2025-08-20T03:24:07ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2016-01-01201610.1155/2016/81802328180232The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated ExternalitiesSteve J. Merrill0Alexander Paz1Victor Molano2Pramen P. Shrestha3Pankaj Maheshwari4Haroon Stephen5Hanns de la Fuente-Mella6Nevada Department of Transportation, 1263 South Stewart Street, Carson City, NV 89712, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, P.O. Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, P.O. Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, P.O. Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, P.O. Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, P.O. Box 454015, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USAFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2830, 2340031 Valparaíso, ChileThis study provides an economic evaluation for a Land Ferry, which is a rail system capable of carrying trucks and all other types of vehicles, passengers, and cargo. The Land Ferry system involves a sliding loading system to roll heavy loads onto a flatbed; as a result, loading and unloading of all vehicles and cargo could be accomplished simultaneously. The evaluation for this system included (1) the design of a new track alignment over which the Land Ferry system would run, (2) evaluation of various sources of power, (3) estimation of how many local jobs the Land Ferry would generate, and (4) a benefit-cost analysis. It was estimated that the Land Ferry would create over 45,788 temporary jobs in Nevada during the three-year construction period and 318 permanent jobs during operation. The majority of the benefits were attributed to savings in travel time ($356.4 M), vehicle operating costs ($1000.4 M), reduction of accidents ($544.6 M), and pavement maintenance ($503.2 M). These benefits would be a consequence of the shift of trucks from the highway, thus resulting in higher speeds, decrease fuel consumption, and decrease vehicle maintenance costs. The overall benefit-cost ratio of 1.7 implies a cost-effective project.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8180232
spellingShingle Steve J. Merrill
Alexander Paz
Victor Molano
Pramen P. Shrestha
Pankaj Maheshwari
Haroon Stephen
Hanns de la Fuente-Mella
The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities
The Scientific World Journal
title The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities
title_full The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities
title_fullStr The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities
title_full_unstemmed The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities
title_short The Feasibility of a Land Ferry System to Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost and Associated Externalities
title_sort feasibility of a land ferry system to reduce highway maintenance cost and associated externalities
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8180232
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