Factors Affecting Locking Times at 600 ft. and 1,200 ft. Locks on the Mississippi River with an Examination of Excessive Locking Time Charges

Delay or time spent waiting in queue to lock is substantial during certain periods of high traffic volume on the Mississippi River. This study investigates factors influencing locking time as well as the source of variation in the locking time on the Upper Mississippi River, and includes tow characteristics and environmental conditions over 1992-2004. The analysis suggests lock capacity has declined over the 1992 to 2004 period for all locks. After correcting for tow and environmental characteristics, very little of the remaining variation is explained by a unique vessel identification number assigned by the Army Corps of Engineers, indicating that lockage fees based purely on relative locking times would not have the desired impact of reducing congestion. In determining the sources of lockage time variation, several operational differences between 1,200 ft and 600 ft. locks were shown. The newer 1,200 ft. locks reduced both locking time and time variation, improving efficiency on the system as a whole.

• Record URL:
  • http://journals.oregondigital.org/trforum/article/viewFile/651/556
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://journals.oregondigital.org/trforum/article/view/651
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10461469
• Authors:
  • Meyer, Seth D
  • Kruse, John
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 13-32
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Transportation Research Forum
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Forum
  • ISSN: 1046-1469
  • Serial URL: https://trforum.org/journal-of-the-trf/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Canal lock operations; Environment; Fees; Locks (Waterways); Queuing; Time; Traffic congestion; Water traffic
• Geographic Terms: Mississippi River
• Subject Areas: Finance; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01088683
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 25 2008 2:34PM