REPORT STRESSES NEED TO MODERNIZE MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

With traffic in U.S. ports expected to double by 2020, a recent report to Congress issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation cites infrastructure modernization as one of the critical issues facing the country's marine transportation system (MTS). By 2000, more than 44% of inland waterway locks and dams will be at least 50 years old, and many harbor channels will need further dredging to accommodate the newer and larger vessels. Produced by a task force composed of representatives of government as well as private-sector groups, the report notes that the MTS plays a crucial, although often underappreciated, role in the nation's economy and national security. The MTS annually moves more than 2 billion tons (1.8 billion Mg) in international freight, including 67% of the consumer goods purchased by Americans and 3.3 billion barrels of oil imports. Until now, however, there has not been a central vision for what the MTS should be. Although the report does not enumerate particular infrastructure projects, it addresses the issue of what until now has been an ad hoc approach to infrastructure improvement. The report urges increased communication and cooperation between port users and government agencies and recommends the creation of an MTS national advisory council to provide comprehensive coordination at the national level.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Publication Date: 1999-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 24
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 69
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Channels (Waterways); Communications; Dams; Dredging; Harbors; Infrastructure; Interagency relations; Locks (Waterways); Modernization; Needs assessment; Ports; Water transportation
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00779676
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 1999 12:00AM