Decarbonization through modal shift using a synchromodal platform: A case study in the Great Lakes

Abstract

This paper offers an empirical study to explore the relationship between transportation modalities and environmental concerns, promoting the adoption of synchromodality as a strategic pathway to achieving sustainable freight transport. The study uses a synchromodal freight transportation platform to analyze the impact of carbon tax policy on modal shift and environmental sustainability. The synchromodal platform is based on an optimization model using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP), incorporating carbon tax as a surrogate measure for environmental costs. A sensitivity analysis is conducted across four distinct scenarios in a case study in the Great Lakes region, focusing on the Canada-US transborder trade. The results of this study illustrate the considerable potential for increasing the utilization of more environmentally sustainable transportation modes in this region. While the addition of carbon tax entails increased total transportation costs for each unit of cargo, the synchromodal-enabled modal shift promises to mitigate transportation’s negative externalities, including congestion, environmental impacts, and noise pollution. The results also highlight the role of synchromodality as a catalyst for sustainable freight transport decisions in the context of a carbon-conscious world.