Freight Transportation Policy

The finds of Chapters 4 and 5 of this report indicate that given little or no change in government programs and policies that are likely to be significant strains on the capacity of the national freight system over the next to 20 years. “Little or no change” means a continuation of past trends in funding levels and patterns of practice in programs and policies affecting freight-system performance. It does not mean a world in which there is no further investment in freight-transportation infrastructure and facilities. It means a world in which federal-aid highway funds continue to flow, states and local governments continue to spend on roads, railroad firms continue to invest in track and equipment, and so forth. But the current level of effort, allowing for some uptrend in funding in light of historical trends, is insufficient to maintain the current performance of the freight system, let alone enhance it. This chapter recommends specific actions that government agencies can implement relatively quickly in order to get us on the patch of ensuring a high-performing freight transportation system over the long term.