Results of a Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) study for the National Waterways Foundation and the U.S. Maritime Administration highlight the benefits of moving cargo by water. For example, barges move a ton of cargo 576 miles for each gallon of fuel expended. That’s a much better average than railroads (413 miles) and trucks (155 miles).
Results of the study, entitled “A Modal Comparison of Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public,” were released last month. “In addition to better fuel efficiency, the TTI study shows just how much safer inland marine freight transportation really is, both in terms of injuries and hazardous material spills,” says Jim Kruse, director for the Center for Ports and Waterways. “The study shows how important it is to use marine transportation when there is a choice of modes.”
The entire report and executive summary are posted at the National Waterways Foundation website.
The year-long study was conducted by TTI researchers Jim Kruse, Les Olson, and Annie Protopapas.