U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Freight Economy
Date: May 3, 2016
Our Host: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
| HIGHWAYS |  | I-93, I-95, I-495, I-90, I-84, and I-395 |
| RAILROADS |  | CSX, Pan Am, and Fore River Railroads |
| AIRPORTS |  | Logan Airport |
| WATERBORNE |  | Port of Boston |
| FREIGHT CLUSTER |  | Everett-Chelsea Industrial Area, CSX Intermodal Terminal (Worcester) |
Sources: massDOT Note: Rail Data updated by Central Transportation Planning Staff, August 2014. Intermodel Connectors Obtained from FHWA National Highway System Shapefile
Boston Metro, MA/NH/RI (3 FAF4 zones)
| Commodity | Value (millions $) | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics | 179,794 | 17% |
| Precision instruments | 135,507 | 13% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 99,447 | 9% |
| Misc. mfg. prods. | 85,443 | 8% |
| Mixed freight | 85,055 | 8% |
| All commodities | 1,062,886 | 100% |
| Commodity | Tons (thousands) | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas (Coal-n.e.c.) | 40,772 | 11% |
| Nonmetal min. prods. | 38,824 | 11% |
| Waste/scrap | 35,576 | 10% |
| Gravel | 34,256 | 9% |
| Gasoline | 34,102 | 9% |
| All commodities | 368,080 | 100% |
| Trade partner | Tonnage | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 8,018 | 14% |
| Maine | 6,050 | 10% |
| SW & Central Asia | 5,178 | 9% |
| New York | 4,232 | 7% |
| Canada | 3,763 | 6% |
| Total outbound | 58,422 | 100% |
| Trade partner | Tonnage | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 19,866 | 15% |
| Connecticut | 17,678 | 13% |
| New York | 15,969 | 12% |
| Rest of Americas | 11,059 | 8% |
| Maine | 10,216 | 8% |
| Total inbound | 131,618 | 100% |
Based on FAF4.1 data with base year 2012 and forecasts up to 2045
Among U.S. metropolitan areas, the Boston MSA (Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH) GDP was ranked ninth in 2014.
About 40% of the Greater Boston metro’s (MA/NH/RI) employment is in the freightintensive sector.
Between 2012 and 2045, the Greater Boston metro’s freight activity is projected to double in value and grow 45% in tonnage.
Trucks carry most of the freight in the Greater Boston metro region, both in value (70%) and tonnage (87%).
By 2045, the share of outbound shipments from the Greater Boston metro region to Europe will reach 16% by value, the highest share among the FAF analysis regions.
Annual congestion costs in the Greater Boston metro region in 2014 were estimated at $3.36 billion, ranking ninth among U.S. urban areas.
Heavy truck volume freight flows from New York to Massachusetts on I-84, I-90, and throughout the Boston metro area.
Heavy truck and auto traffic bottlenecks include most of I-93 in the Boston metro region, I-90 from Westfield to Boston, and sections of I-495, I-290, and I-95.
Large freight distribution center and warehouse clusters are located in the Boston, Worcester (I-90 & I-395) and Springfield (I-90 & I-91) areas.
Conley Container Terminal in Boston serves seven of the world’s top 10 container lines. An estimated 75% to 90% of the terminal’s marine freight shipment is destined for locations within 100 miles of the port.
Sources for Freight Facts: FAF4 Data, US DOT Freight Fact and Figure, S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, massDOT, massport, TTI 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard, massDOT2010 State Freight Plan
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