Shifting the traffic of cast iron slabs from the road to the sea and to the rail from the Port of Monfalcone to the San Giorgio di Nogaro area.
The slab traffic performed by heavy trucks from the Port of Monfalcone to the San Giorgio di Nogaro area has relevant impacts on the road infrastructures, road safety as well as on the pollution and noise level of the area.
A study realized by the Municipality of Monfalcone highlights that the effects of the iron cast slab traffic performed by heavy trucks in the port surroundings are: road infrastructures life is reduced by 39%; average speed of vehicles is reduced by 3.3% with a decrement LoS from “E” to “F”; percentage of road accidents related to heavy truck is 1.4 times bigger than the one related to other vehicles; pollutant emissions (CO, PM10 and PM2.5) incremented by 21%.
The GP performed by Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia consists in shifting the slab traffic from the road to the sea or to the rail to reach the end users.
In 2019, 10,615 cast iron slabs (351,675 tons) have been carried by sea from the Port of Monfalcone to the Port of Porto Nogaro. In the same year, over 4,000 slabs (more than 125,000 tons) have been carried by rail from the Port of Monfalcone to the Port of Porto Nogaro.
Nearly 15,000 cast iron slabs, equal to 7,500 heavy truck have moved from the road to other transport mode in 2019 thanks to this GP.
Resources needed
Shifting part of the slabs traffic from the road to the sea and rail have been possible with financial contributions guaranteed by the FVG Region. In 2019, rail operators have been funded with 600,000 € to perform the modal shift. Information on involved staff is not available.
Evidence of success
In 2019, this practice has saved more than 14.5 tons. of CO2eq per week / 754 tons. of CO2eq per year.
Potential for learning or transfer
This good practice can be replicated in other regions affected by a heavy truck traffic going from a port to an industrial area nearby another port or served by railways.
A thorough analysis of the externalities and carbon footprint generated by the traffic is necessary to assess the impact of this measure on the contribution to climate change caused by port activities both inside the port and in the port’s surroundings.
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Tags: Climate change, Cooperation, Emissions, Environment, Low-carbon, Ports, Sustainable, Transport
