At the end of the nineties the Brussels Capital Region, concerned about the quality of life of its citizens, endowed itself with a transportation plan. This strategic plan for transport policy took an approach to both passenger and freight transport. In the field of freight transport, the following strategic themes and actions were defined: 1. the parking of delivery vehicles: facilitate deliveries and eliminate double parking, solve the problems caused by the long-term parking of lorries; 2. the journeys of goods vehicles: integrate lorries better in the overall traffic flow and protect their journeys, reduce the damage to the environment; 3. logistics: improve the accessibility and services of the port area, integrate the logistic function of the Brussels Region in European logistic networks, improve the competitiveness of the local transport and logistics companies. In this context it clearly appeared that the administration and the regional authorities in charge of transport wanted to further channel the journeys of lorries through the urban network, especially by providing corridors that are mandatory for heavy freight transport and give access to the whole region. A study was ordered from the Belgian Road Research Centre to define the appropriate strategy for these routes. This study was to result in a solution that can be operational on the spot both for the carriers and the shippers (i.e. the economic activity of the region) and for the frontage residents (i.e. the quality of life in the city). (Author/publisher)
Abstract