PRINCIPLES FOR GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

The Committee for a Study of Policy Options to Address Intermodal Freight Transportation of the Transportation Research Board has been charged with providing guidelines for determining government's role in freight-related activities. The committee has been asked to consider several questions: What circumstances (e.g., market inefficiencies, equity concerns, or historical institutional patterns) justify or necessitate government involvement? Will optimizing the freight system require centralized decision making (e.g., arbitration of interstate rivalries), or conversely, will existing, decentralized decision making suffice? How can federal responsibilities be distinguished from those of state and local government? What practical analysis tools do governments need to evaluate individual proposals for government involvement in projects for developing freight facilities? A conceptual framework to aid the committee in addressing these questions is provided in this paper. Intermodal freight operations are defined and illustrations of existing facilities are offered. Potential benefits of intermodal freight facilities are set forth. Barriers to the effective implementation and operation of intermodal freight facilities are discussed. Reasons for government involvement, including market failures and externalities, are introduced. The relationship between regional economic development, intermodal freight activity, and government involvement is described. Finally, the appropriate roles of the various levels of government are examined.

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