DFW Clean Ports Project: Planning for cleaner air in Dallas-Fort Worth

DALLAS  – SMU researchers and the Southern Dallas Inland Port Transportation Management Association are working with officials from Wilmer and Arlington to address air quality around key logistics hubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Backed by a 2024 EPA Clean Ports Program grant, the DFW Clean Ports Project seeks to support sustainable economic growth while enhancing community health.

As a key center for national transportation and logistics, the DFW Metroplex’s intermodal terminals drive economic expansion, creating jobs and fostering business growth. However, heavy truck traffic in these areas poses air quality challenges for nearby communities. The DFW Clean Ports Project will evaluate emissions at major terminals and collaborate on solutions to reduce their impact.

Located in Southern Dallas County, the Dallas County Inland Port spans over 120 square miles, covering cities like Wilmer, Hutchins, and parts of Lancaster, DeSoto, and Dallas. As the largest inland port in the DFW region, it houses 83 companies, including Amazon, Walmart, and FedEx, and provides more than 30,000 jobs. This makes it a critical economic driver but also a significant source of diesel truck emissions, with over 15,000 heavy-duty trucks passing through daily. The heavy freight activity has placed nearby communities, designated by the EPA as above the 90th percentile in environmental justice indicators, at increased risk for pollution-related health issues.

The DFW Clean Ports Project unites city officials from Wilmer and Arlington with SMU researchers and the Southern Dallas Inland Port Transportation Management Association to tackle these air quality issues. The team will focus on measuring diesel emissions from trucks at two key sites: the Dallas Intermodal Terminal (DIT) in Wilmer and the Dallas Intermodal Center (DIC) in Arlington. By using sophisticated sensor technology and data analysis, they aim to establish an accurate emissions baseline and explore practical strategies for reducing air pollution around these terminals.

“Receiving the 2024 Clean Ports Program grant underscores our commitment to improving air quality and enhancing the quality of life for residents,” said Laura Freeland, Executive Director of the Inland Port Transportation and Economic Development Director of Wilmer. “By collaborating with experts in transportation, remote sensing, and community engagement, we’ll gain precise insights into the emissions affecting our region, which will help us develop effective, community-centered solutions.”

SMU’s team will employ cutting-edge road-based remote sensing technology to track emissions, using devices similar to satellite weather sensors. These sensors, installed along key routes to and from the terminals, will measure emissions in real-time as trucks pass by. Additionally, motion detectors, visual cameras, and traffic signals will capture traffic flow data, enabling a comprehensive analysis of how congestion and truck idling contribute to air quality issues. SMU’s involvement adds a significant scientific component, with researchers specializing in remote sensing and transportation analysis, contributing technical expertise to measure emissions at an unprecedented level of precision in the DFW area.

“SMU is excited about this unique collaborative opportunity to support both public health and economic growth in our region.” said Suku Nair, SMU’s Vice Provost for Research and Chief Innovation Officer.  

SMU’s team of principal investigators leading this project includes professors Scott Douglas and Khaled Abdelghany from the Lyle School of Engineering. Douglas emphasized the team’s specialized skills, stating, “We bring our expertise in remote sensing and transportation to this impactful project.” Abdelghany added, “We will gather actionable data that allows decision-makers to implement evidence-based solutions for cleaner air.”

The DFW Clean Ports Project also focuses on community engagement as a cornerstone of its mission. Partnering with local residents and organizations, the project will hold 20 monthly community meetings to share progress updates, gather resident input, and deliver EPA-led training on environmental action. A door-to-door canvassing campaign will engage residents directly, with trained canvassers collecting feedback on specific neighborhood concerns, from pollution and noise to safety and local job access. These insights, alongside technical data from the emissions monitoring, will shape the project’s recommendations, aligning them with the community’s needs.

The project’s goals go beyond assessment, aiming to identify actionable strategies such as optimizing traffic patterns to reduce congestion-related emissions. This could have immediate effects on air quality and could serve as a model for sustainable logistics practices nationwide. Through partnerships with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), real-time air quality data will be integrated into the project, offering further insight into regional air quality trends and supporting data-driven recommendations.

As part of the EPA’s broader efforts to explore zero-emission solutions, the DFW Clean Ports Project will also examine the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) and other low-emission alternatives to diesel trucks in the long term. Although the current study does not involve immediate implementation of EVs, the data gathered will provide a foundation for assessing future shifts toward sustainable transportation technology within the DFW logistics industry.

The DFW Clean Ports Project is a major step toward addressing air quality in Dallas-Fort Worth, balancing economic growth with public health priorities. By integrating technical expertise, community insights, and innovative solutions, this project aims to make meaningful, lasting improvements in air quality for the DFW Metroplex.