PACE-FORWARD: Policy Analytic and Computational Environment for Dutch Freight Transport

This report describes the design and capabilities of PACE-FORWARD, the decision support system (DSS) developed to support the FORWARD (Freight Options for Road, Water, and Rail for the Dutch) study, a major transportation research study that examined the benefits and costs of a broad range of policy options for mitigating the negative impacts of the expected growth in Dutch road freight transport while retaining the economic benefits. The PACE-FORWARD DSS was used to estimate the effects of numerous policy options and can be used to reevaluate policy options as projections change and/or more data become available. The model offers a spreadsheet environment containing tools and models to support policy analysis, including macroeconomic effects. It has integrated data and model bases and a graphical user interface. Existing Dutch and international research, data, and models were used extensively in its design and development.