IRPT Mississippi River Cities & Town’s Initiatives
The Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals (IRPT) Trade Association announced today that it is in full support of the U.S. Mayors’ initiative of moving ocean-going containers by barge on the U.S. Inland River System.With the realization that river barge movement of goods is the most cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly form of transportation in the United States, IRPT strongly endorses the initiative to bring intermodal containers to the inland river system.
“IRPT promotes the use of our nation’s waterways,our country’s most valuable natural resource,for barge movement of freight and commodities. While truck and rail movement of goods and intermodal containers are necessary,we believe the long-haul route of this freight movement should take place on our nation’s marine highways,”said Hugh McConnell,president of IRPT. “It is more cost-effective and better for the environment.”
There are over 12,000 miles of navigable rivers and 230 locks in the United States. Today,regulations are encouraging commodities to be moved by truck or rail, both of which are less friendly to the environment. One standard 15-tow barge on the Upper Mississippi River moves the same amount of freight as 225 rail cars or 1,050 tractor trailers, with far less pollution.