MARINE TRANSPORTATION OF INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FOR THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR

Global trade is increasingly a significant part of the United States ’ economic well-being. It is estimated that international trade will more than double over the next two decades. The success of international trade transactions for the nation is directly dependent on having an efficient and effective international gateways and an internal intermodal transportation system for freight movement. As population grows, congestion in the transportation system is also becoming problematic. The Northeast region of the U.S. represents more than 100 million citizens and approximately 40 percent of the nation’s disposable income. This is a region with a high demand for consumer goods and industry materials. Continued expansion of economic prosperity and community and environmental well-being will be dependent on having adequate transportation capacity and efficiencies. Port authorities are working with other transportation agencies and industry representatives to create the needed added transportation system capacity and provide transportation efficiencies to meet the regional and national demand for handling the growing volumes of international and domestic cargo. Two promising avenues for enhancing goods mobility are the development and application of Intelligent Transportation System technologies and greater utilization of Short Sea Shipping, particularly along the Northeast corridor. These approaches will require new levels of national and regional coordination among public agencies and private entities. Without improvement in cooperation, communication and commitment among the stakeholders, there is a serious risk of increasing congestion and transportation system inefficiencies that will hurt both the Northeast’s economic prosperity, its environment and ultimately the region’s quality of life