MarAd: Study Confirms Benefits of Moving Freight on Inland Waterways

 

A new joint study by government and industry confirms the efficiency, cost-savings and environmental benefits of moving freight on 's inland waterways. The study, titled "A Modal Comparison of Freight and Transportation Effects on the General Public," was conducted by 's Texas Transportation Institute, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration and the National Waterways Foundation. Considering river barge transportation along certain corridors in the nation, researchers compared that mode's cargo capacity and fuel efficiency with over-the-road trucks and trains. They also compared the overall safety of the three modes; the impact of building and maintaining roads, rails and ports; and the environmental impact of each mode. The study may be seen online.