This study used data from 2001-2009 to update the 2009 modal comparison study conducted bythe Texas Transportation Institute, which used data from 2001-2005. The objective was todevelop performance measures in terms of rates per ton-mile in order to facilitate multimodalcomparisons between inland towing, rail, and truck in six topical areas: cargo capacity, trafficcongestion, energy efficiency, air quality, safety, and infrastructure. This study considered asnapshot in time in order to focus on several vital issues. Every effort was made to use credible,publicly available, and independently verifiable data from federal, industry or academic sources.The scope of the study and several data limitations necessitated the use of assumptions based onsound engineering principles and the development of innovative methods in order to arrive atplausible results and fulfill the study's unconventional objectives. The study concluded thatwaterborne transportation continues to compare favorably to the rail and highway modes interms of the performance measures examined. Any waterborne freight diversion to either of thetwo modes would likely result in serious negative effects on their freight transportationoperations and possible system breakdowns. Chain reaction effects would severely jeopardize thewell-being of the general public and the national economy.
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