Theodore TSEKERIS, Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE), Greece
This paper investigates the diverse impact that land use patterns have on freight transport cost at the regional level in Europe. A unique dataset is employed which distinguishes various aspects of transport cost across EU regions, including network distance and travel time. The land use patterns are expressed in terms of urban sprawl indices, density of developed land for different usage categories, and land use mixture. The econometric analysis shows that both the increased scale and compact development of urban settlements and of specific (industrial, services/residential) land uses can significantly reduce average road freight transport costs. The increased land use mixture and the share of industrial activity have also a negative impact on road freight transport costs. The results highlight the importance of integrated spatial/land use planning policies to manage transport costs and improve the sustainable urban development of EU regions.
Mots clés : Road freight|network distance|travel time|land uses|EU regions
A105608TT