Page 14: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jul/Aug 2017)

13 15

OP/ED

ACT NOW ON PORT

INFRASTRUCTURE

FUNDING FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO KEEP U.S. ECONOMY MOVING.

BY RICH COOPER AND KURT NAGLE nfrastructure is the backbone of developed nations. Our national and Midwest experts discussed the most critical is- ability to move raw materials and fnished products be- sues facing America’s freight transportation system and our

Itween domestic and world markets is critical to economic economy. Representatives from manufacturers, ports, steel- success. Right now, the U.S. freight transportation industry is making, mining, logistics, trucking, agriculture, departments at a crossroads and infrastructure funding is urgently needed of transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and aca- to grow our economy. In recent years, transportation infra- demia shared their concerns about the urgent need for new in- structure investment has lagged, impacting the fow of goods frastructure funding and the catastrophic consequences if we for farmers, manufacturers, workers and consumers who must don’t act. Topics included: have access to the global marketplace. • U.S. infrastructure lagging behind: American Society

This spring, an important roundtable was held in Indianap- of Civil Engineers graded U.S. infrastructure as a D+ olis during national ‘Infrastructure Week’ where a group of in 2016 and estimated that 56,000 bridges are

Image credit: Ports of Indiana 14 Maritime Logistics Professional July/August 2017 | |