Abstract: The reasonable location planning of urban public logistics facility is a prerequisite for the government to formulate effective spatial layout scheme of urban logistics facilities and promote efficient and orderly development of urban logistics. From the government’s point of view, this research develops a logistics facility location analysis method that takes into account urban freight efficiency (in terms of average shortest travel time, minimum transportation cost and urban freight accessibility) and the greenhouse gas emission and road traffic impact produced from urban freight activities. The method is applied to analyze Beijing’s latest planning schemes of logistics facilities. It is found that (1) the public logistics facilities in Beijing should not be located more than 40 km away from the city center, and the location scheme currently planned may result in heavier traffic congestion on some parts of roads, such as the part of Jinggangao motorway between Jingliang Bridge and Liuli Bridge, and North 2nd Ring Road; (2) improving urban freight accessibility based on public logistics facilities is an effective method for local governments to enhance urban freight performance, reduce transportation costs and greenhouse gas emission. The method proposed in this paper provides theoretical support for the government to formulate a reasonable logistics spatial layout planning, so as to develop urban logistics with high efficiency and low environmental and traffic impacts.

Key words: public logistics facilities, location planning, freight accessibility, greenhouse gas emission, traffic congestion