MARAD CONTINUES SUPPORT OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMS

MARAD CONTINUES SUPPORT OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMS    The country’s transportation leaders may be focused on security improvements, but the U.S. Maritime Administration vowed that it will continue to support programs to improve intermodal transportation.
   Before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta had initiated talks on the establishment of a “SEA-21 initiative” to address marine transportation infrastructure improvements.
   “While movement on such an initiative has been postponed until all security concerns are addressed within the department, the Maritime Administration will continue to explore the challenges facing the marine transportation system and consider the possible development of coastwise shipping to relieve freight congestion on the highways,” said Capt. William G. Schubert, head of MarAd, before a Maritime Alliance meeting in New Orleans Thursday.
   Schubert cited a recent project by the Gulf Rivers Intermodal Partnership, “Where the Rudders Meets the Roads,” through which about 100 maritime and government transportation officials made suggestions about how the marine transport mode could become a partner with land transport modes to meet the challenges of congestion due to a forecasted doubling and tripling of overall transportation demand in the next 20 years.
   “This administration wants to encourage and promote the goals of this type of intermodal, intergovernmental, multi-industry initiative,” Schubert said. “Local progress like this provides a nationwide model for other regions to develop.”