Abstract
This chapter examines the spatial patterns of freight and logistics activities and the planning and policy issues associated with them, using Los Angeles as a case study. The rapid increase in the number of freight facilities in Los Angeles in recent decades is discussed. An important aspect of the geography of the logistics industry in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is identified: “logistics sprawl”, which is the spatial deconcentration of logistics facilities and distribution centers. Local governments give explicit consideration to logistics activities, especially for the jobs and tax revenues they can generate in a time of economic difficulties. Two cities are examined in detail: one is a traditionally industrial city close to the downtown area, the other is a sprawling community of the “Inland Empire,” east of the L.A. metro area. Both cities tell the story of the seemingly inescapable rise in the importance of the warehousing/logistics industry in the economic life of working class areas, raising questions about the pros and cons of logistics activities for local communities.
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Notes
- 1.
Cross-dock facilities are the terminals used in the parcel (less than truck load) and express transport industries.
- 2.
METRANS is a joint research center from the University of Southern California and California State University of Long Beach.
- 3.
FAF is a compilation of freight databases made by the US DOT. http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/faf/.
- 4.
The Alameda Corridor is a 20 mile freight rail infrastructure connecting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to intermodal railyards in downtown Los Angeles.
- 5.
These are fiscal years, i.e. from July 1 to June 30.
- 6.
North American Industry Classification System.
- 7.
The NAICS replaced the SIC in 1997 to take better account of new and expanding industries. Correspondence tables between SIC and NAICS exist. The city of Vernon’s business listings continue to use the SIC coding system.
- 8.
I have selected 20 business types out of a total of 128 in the databases. These 20 types selected are those more obviously dealing with warehousing and distribution activities.
- 9.
General Warehousing and Storage, Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage, Special Warehousing and Storage, Not Elsewhere Classified.
- 10.
North American Industry Classification System.
- 11.
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html (last accessed on April 26, 2012).
- 12.
Interviews: city of Moreno Valley, John Terell, AICP, Planning Official, April 18, 2012; city of Vernon, Kevin Wilson, Director of Community, Services and Water, May 7, 2012; WRCOG (Western Riverside Council of Government), Ruthanne Taylor-Berger, Deputy Executive Director, May 23, 2012; Gateway Cities, Jerry Wood, Director of Transportation and Engineering, May 30, 2012; Los Angeles County, Connie Chung, Supervising Regional Planner, June 18, 2012. Questionnaires filled: cities of Santa Clarita and Palmdale.
- 13.
Parcel, here, is to be understood in its planning sense (land lot). California parcel taxes are ‘qualified special taxes’ on specific properties whose revenue can be earmarked for any kind of specific target, such as schools.
- 14.
Press release, February 9, 2012: "City staff has unveiled a proposal for enacting a special 23-cents-per-square-foot parcel tax assessment to raise $16 million in new revenue for the city general fund budget.… The $16 million in general fund revenues raised through the special parcel tax would be earmarked for support of police, fire, environmental health services and capital improvements…. Under the staff’s proposal, approximately 900 property owners in Vernon would be taxed 23-cents-per-square-foot as an assessment on the total land space on which their businesses operate. On average, the special parcel tax would amount to less than $50.00 per day per business assessed. Warehouse business owners presently paying a warehouse parcel tax would not be “double-taxed” on that portion of their property already subject to the warehouse parcel tax assessment."
- 15.
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A set of standards for the design of green buildings.
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Acknowledgments
This chapter presents some of the results of the “MEGAREGION” project made possible thanks to a 2011–2012 partnership between IFSTTAR, the French Institute of Sciences and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks, and the University of Southern California, more specifically the METRANS Research Center headed by Professor Genevieve Giuliano. “MEGAREGION” also included research on Atlanta (Dablanc and Ross 2012). Parts of Sect. 1 use an updated version of the Atlanta research. I wish to thank the many practitioners and experts from Southern California who accepted to be interviewed and to share their views on logistics issues in Los Angeles during the first semester of 2012. Victoria Farr, a master’s student from USC Price School of Public Policy, contributed to the chapter by collecting, processing and mapping the geographical data in Sect. 3.
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Dablanc, L. (2014). Logistics Sprawl and Urban Freight Planning Issues in a Major Gateway City. In: Gonzalez-Feliu, J., Semet, F., Routhier, JL. (eds) Sustainable Urban Logistics: Concepts, Methods and Information Systems. EcoProduction. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31788-0_4
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