Project title: Development of potential policies and incentives to encourage movement of containerized freight on Texas inland waterways

750553875Technical report; Sept. 2007-Aug. 2008.PDFTech ReportFHWA/TX-09/0-5937-1Project No. 0-5937Short sea shippingShippingWater transportationContainerizationInland water transportationTexasTexas Transportation InstituteKruse, C. JamesMorgan, Curtis AlanHutson, Nathan MarkTexas Transportation InstituteTexas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation OfficeUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Ships and VesselsNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Planning and PolicyNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Laws and RegulationsNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Economics and FinanceUS Transportation CollectionThis report is designed to answer three basic questions:1. Why is the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) interested in moving more cargo by water?2. What are the potential benefits of moving more cargo by water?3. What specific steps can TxDOT or the State of Texas take to encourage more waterborne freightmovements?In this report, the authors:\ue2\u20ac\ua2 describe the need for increased utilization of marine freight options,\ue2\u20ac\ua2 look at the challenges involved, and\ue2\u20ac\ua2 describe the potential benefits of increasing the utilization of marine freight options.The authors provide a summary of relevant programs in Europe and the activities of other gulf states. Theyanalyze the capacity and efficiency of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, as this waterway will most likely bethe conduit for increased coastwise shipments. They then provide several examples of activities taken byTexas ports to encourage more domestic waterborne freight shipments, along with several examples of recentstart-up services. The report recommends several steps TxDOT could pursue in the short term to encouragemore waterborne shipments along the coast. Finally, the report includes a chapter of Frequently AskedQuestions regarding \ue2\u20ac\u153Short Sea Shipping\ue2\u20ac? or \ue2\u20ac\u153Marine Highways\ue2\u20ac? for readers who do not regularly deal withmarine transportation issues. Several appendices provide detailed background material on federal issues,legislation, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and the role of waterborne freight in Texas