Information Exchange: Publications

Multi-Modal Connections at the Port of New York and New Jersey

Author: Thomas H. Wakeman

"The United States' continued growth and prosperity is dependent on global, national, and local business enterprises and their employees having access to modern transportation infrastructure. Any interruptions or delays to the rapid movement of products or commodities between global trading partners impairs economic competitiveness and creates inefficiencies in the marketplace. Even before the tragic events of September 11th, the steady growth of the global economy and the expansion of international trade were putting intense pressure on the collective performance of the transportation community. The volume of cargo moving in the international marketplace has been growing at double-digit rates. The United States’ economy is increasingly dependent on international trade such that it now represents about one-fifth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (USDOT, 1999). Between 1990 and 1997 the Nation's foreign trade grew approximately 38 percent by tonnage and 35 percent by value. This expansion is intensifying the demand for new multi-modal transportation infrastructure and services, particularly  for freight but also for passengers. In addition after the attacks on New York and Washington DC, the heighten threat of terrorist activities demands careful consideration of  security and redundancy issues in transportation infrastructure design and construction."

Date Created: October 2001; Date Posted: February 2007

Projects:

• Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems (ICIS)

Events:

• First Annual Conference on Infrastracture Priorities: National Infrastructure Research Agenda (NIRA)

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