PBS Examines Freight Rail Bottlenecks
A recent report on the PBS program The Newshour with Jim Lehrer reveals how bottlenecks in our nation's freight rail network can hinder U.S. economic competitiveness compared with more advanced systems abroad.
Rick Karr, a correspondent for Blueprint America, reports that as a major freight rail hub, Chicago has become the nation’s worst bottleneck, significantly impacting the speed and cost of moving freight across the nation. Transporting goods by rail instead of by truck consumes less fuel, generates less traffic on the roads and is cheaper, but the delays have marginalized the significant environmental and economic benefits of moving freight by rail.
Chicago's freight volume will increase by 30 percent over the next 20 years and the city is trying to convince Washington that fixing these bottlenecks is a national priority. Frank Barr of UPS, a major freight rail customer, says railroads need more capacity, more technology and more help from government.
Shippers, environmental groups and planning authorities are advocating the development of a nationwide freight strategy and increased government involvement through tax incentives and public private partnerships.