Impacts of ethanol plants on highway networks

Abstract

This paper describes the impacts of the ethanol industry on existing highway infrastructure in the vicinity of an ethanol production plant. To determine the impacts of plant location, the corn and soybean draw areas are estimated on the basis of crop prices. Crop production data are extracted from satellite imagery of the crop data layer produced by National Agricultural Statistics Service and the United States Department of Agriculture. The increase in truck traffic attributable to the ethanol plant is estimated for the changed flow of feedstock. A model is run for two scenarios: i) existing corn and soybean production; and, ii) increased corn and soybean production. Based on existing pavement condition and incremental traffic changes, the funds required to maintain the affected roads at their present service levels are quantified.