Leveraging the Freight Network: 10 Steps to Improved Modal Connectivity

Historically, the U.S. federal government has recognized—and supported—the national development of transportation infrastructure necessary for economic growth and national defense. For many years, any investment was an improvement. However, such a haphazard arrangement is no longer acceptable. Today, we find ourselves with a funding mechanism as dysfunctional as the policy mechanism itself. Transportation is an asset-based, network-operating business. Unfortunately, the system cannot efficiently accommodate the demands being placed on the road, rail, and waterway networks. In 2005, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave our nation’s infrastructure a grade of D+ and estimated a $1.6 trillion price to repair it. Many transportation stakeholders are raising issues in advance of the 2009 reauthorization cycle. During the authors' interviews, they heard many ideas about our nation’s transportation problems. They do not all bear repeating, but a unified theme emerged: The industry consensus is that freight is talking, and the federal government is not listening. The overriding common theme expressed was the need for modal connectivity and solutions which support the interdependent freight transportation network. Unfortunately, intermodal transportation, the unifying force of our national transportation system, does not fit within the legacy modal governance and funding maintained by the federal government in both the executive and legislative branches. It has, therefore, failed to attract meaningful support. The authors' proposed solutions focus on intermodal improvements, which they believe have the power to leverage other freight network initiatives and maximize overall value for the entire network, not just a single mode or special interest.