A STUDY OF THE INLAND WATERWAY USE CHARGE PROGRAM

The purpose of the study is to examine the economic implications of a number of proposed user charge methods. First the criteria are presented by which user charge methods should be evaluated. These criteria include economic efficiency, equity, and administrative simplicity. Then a number of alternative user charge mechanisms are examined and appraised in light of these criteria. In addition, estimates are made of the rates necessary under each user charge method to recover current annual operating and maintenance costs as well as investment costs. An attempt is also made to appraise the diversion of traffic that might occur on the different waterways if these charges were imposed. This study is confined to shallow draft, inland waterway transport. Port operations, deep channels connecting ports to the sea, deep draft coastal shipping, and Great Lakes shipping are excluded. While the theory of user charges is general, evaluation of impact is confined to shallow draft operations, principally on the Mississippi and its tributaries. (DOT abstract)

• Corporate Authors:

  CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES

  CAMBRIDGE, MA  United States 
• Publication Date: 1970-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 82 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economics; Inland waterways; Marine transit; Marketing; Port congestion; Sales; Tolls; Traffic congestion; User charges; Vessel traffic control; Waterways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Waterway congestion
• Old TRIS Terms: Inland waterways economics; Toll operations
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00019676
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Rpt 157-1
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-00072
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 25 1978 12:00AM