Intermodal facilities have become a more important component of freight movements as containerized freight is increasingly used to transport goods. Intermodal movements allow shippers to use a combination of modes and thereby utilize the efficiencies of each mode to reduce cost. Intermodal movements are constrained by the intermodal facilities that are used to move freight from one mode to another. Figure 1 shows the location of intermodal facilities in the MAFC along with interstates and Class I railroads. The location of intermodal yards must reside at the nexus of at least two modes of transportation.

Figure 1: Intermodal Facilities in the MAFC

Source: Intermodal Yards, 2012