U.S. Freight Investment Efficiency: Phase I

The purpose of this project was to analyze freight transportation modal investment and performance in the United States. Researchers examined recent Federal and state transportation budgets to quantify the public investment made in highway and waterway transportation to the extent such data can be readily obtained from applicable Federal agencies. Subsequently, the performance of the freight system was analyzed in the amount of freight moved (ton-miles) by mode in comparison to the amount of Federal dollars invested.

The final project report may be found here. This report has also been submitted to the Transportation Research Board for presentation and publication consideration in the 2013 Annual Meeting.

This project was funded by the Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute at the University of Memphis and Dr. James Dobbins was the principal investigator. Ron Coles of WR Coles and Associates was a subcontractor on the project.