Implications of Breaching Lower Columbia-Snake River Dams on Modal Competition and Grain Flows

This analysis is largely based on received theory of firm behavior. How will an individual transportation firm react to changes in the logistical system if the four dams are breached? The collective action of like firms will result in changes in the industry, which will reveal much about the potential impacts. However, the analysis is complicated by the fact that the barge industry consists of one dominant firm and the Class I railroad industry consists of two firms in the study area. The overall goals of this analysis were to: (1) Estimate the short- and long-term impacts that eliminating barge transportation from Pasco to Lewiston will have on rail, truck, and barge rate structures in the selected origin territory; (2) Identify the potential for modal shifts; and (3) Discuss possible origin-destination shifts as a result of any changes in the rate structures of the three modes.

Record URL:
Corporate Authors:
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

North Dakota State University
1320 Albrecht Boulevard
Fargo, ND United States 581052

Washington State University, Pullman

Department of Agricultural Economics
Pullman, WA United States 99164-6210
Authors:
- Vachal, Kimberly
- Griffin, Gene
- Casavant, Ken
Publication Date: 2000-3

Language

English

Media Info

Media Type: Digital/other
Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
Pagination: 49p

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Barges; Competition; Dams; Freight traffic; Grain; Impacts; Logistics; Modal shift; Origin and destination; Pricing; Railroad transportation; Rates; Truck traffic
Geographic Terms: Columbia-Snake River Waterway
Subject Areas: Finance; Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01699639
Record Type: Publication
Report/Paper Numbers: SP-145
Files: TRIS
Created Date: Mar 25 2019 9:54AM