Prof. Serena Alexander’s Road to a Sustainable and Resilient Rail and Freight Portal Map
“If we want to build freight and rail systems that are efficient, reliable, and built to last, we need research that bridges policy, infrastructure, and innovation,” says Prof. Serena Alexander. “My work is driven by the goal of helping planners and decisionmakers design smarter, more coordinated transportation systems that support both freight and passenger mobility.”
Dr. Serena Alexander’s recent research focuses on advancing sustainable freight transportation systems, with an emphasis on reducing emissions, and integrating freight planning into broader environmental, economic and mobility policy frameworks. Her past work has addressed key challenges in urban goods movement and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through innovative freight planning at the local level.
Notable among these efforts are her studies on freight emissions in San José and the integration of climate strategies into local freight planning, as well as her research on emerging delivery technologies like sidewalk robots and their social acceptance. These projects have collectively provided cities with frameworks to reconcile mobility and climate goals, especially in the freight sector, which is often underrepresented in urban sustainability discussions.
Building upon her research on freight, Dr. Alexander pursued partnership with other scholars to advance freight and rail research. This resulted in a project entitled Planning for Sustainable and Resilient Rail and Freight: Developing a Novel Tool to Analyze Resilience Strategies in State and Regional Freight and Rail Plans.
A Sustainable Rail and Freight Portal Map
Rail and freight systems are the backbone of the U.S. economy, moving goods efficiently across regions and supporting millions of jobs. Ensuring these systems are resilient, secure, and future-ready is critical to maintaining economic competitiveness and public safety. This project, led by Dr. Serena Alexander, examines freight and rail strategies and policies from across the United States to identify best practices and inform future planning efforts.
With a focus on multimodal connectivity, infrastructure resilience, transportation security, innovation, and human safety, the Northeastern research team is developing a first-of-its-kind, public-facing Sustainable and Resilient Rail and Freight Portal Map. This interactive tool will allow industry professionals, policymakers, researchers, and community advocates to explore how states are preparing their freight and rail systems to withstand emerging challenges and adopt innovative solutions. It will include data from a national survey of transportation professionals and a detailed analysis of state freight plans.
The final products—an in-depth technical report and the online portal—will offer valuable insights and user-friendly resources for integrating resilience into freight and rail planning at multiple scales. These tools are designed to support informed decision-making across sectors, helping to close existing knowledge gaps in the industry.
This work is funded by the Federal Railroad Administration as part of the Center for Equitable and Efficient Transportation for Decarbonization and Resilience (CEEDR), a research consortium led by the Mineta Transportation Institute.
A Collaborative Effort
Northeastern University graduate students Carmella Munyuzangabo and Policy School alumnus Avante Grady ’25 (MS in Urban Planning and Policy) have contributed significantly to the research and development of this project, working closely with Dr. Alexander and the larger team to advance its goals and bring this innovative tool to life.
In Fall 2024, Dr. Alexander presented this work at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) Conference in Colorado, sharing early findings and engaging with industry professionals on the future of rail and freight resilience planning. The research team looks forward to sharing the final results of this research soon!
Relevant Citations:
Alexander, Serena E., Kyle Laveroni, Maxwell Friedman, and Janani Thiagarajan. “Routes to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Freight Transportation in the City of San José.” Mineta Transportation Institute Publications (2022). https://transweb.sjsu.edu/research/2237-Freight-Transportation-Emissions-Climate-Change
Alexander, Serena E. “Robots Among Us: An Analysis of Community Perspectives and Reactions toward Sidewalk Delivery Robots in the City of San José.” Mineta Transportation Institute Publications (2022). https://transweb.sjsu.edu/research/2203-Sidewalk-Delivery-Robots
Goetz, Andrew R., and Serena Alexander. “Urban Goods Movement and Local Climate Action Plans: Assessing Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Freight Transportation.” Mineta Transportation Institute Publications (2019). https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/1796_Goetz_Alexander_Urban-Goods-Movement-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf