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Optimized Options for Fresh Food Deliveries in Baltimore Food Deserts

A food desert is an area with limited access to healthy and affordable food. This study evaluates various alternatives of a last-mile fresh food delivery system to address issues of limited access to fresh food sources for individuals living in so-called food deserts. Six different combinations of five transportation modes – truck, e-bike, shared-ride, pop-up truck, and third-party delivery car – and a locker facility system, are evaluated to determine the total delivery cost to serve a food desert area. The characteristics of each transportation mode are presented, and the total costs of delivery, including user costs, are computed for a case study area in Baltimore. The Network Analyst extension in ArcGIS 10.6 is used to estimate travel time, distance and costs. The results show that delivery by a third party is the most cost-effective, followed by trucks and e-bikes. The shared-vehicle and pickup bus alternatives are the most expensive. On the other hand, deliveries made by pop-up trucks have the lowest operating cost.