MPC
Research Projects (2008-09)

Project Title

Inland Waterway Transportation Conference

University

North Dakota State University

Project Investigator

Denver Tolliver

Description of Project Abstract

America’s inland waterway system serves a vital role in freight transportation. Even regions that are not directly served by inland waterways benefit from navigation. This is true for the Mountain-Plains region. Much of the grain produced in North and South Dakota moves to the Mississippi River or to the head of the lakes for transfer to water for subsequent movement. Similarly, much of the coal mined in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana moves to the Mississippi River or to the head of the lakes for transfer to water for subsequent movement. As these examples suggest, the effects of the inland waterway system extend beyond those states directly bordering the waterways. In addition to coal and grain, chemical and petroleum products, iron ore, and construction materials (which are essential to the economies of the interior of the United States) are moved on the Great Lakes and Mississippi River System.

The main purpose of this conference is to expand the dissemination of timely knowledge and bring together many of the groups affected by inland waterways to help identify the future role of the inland waterway system in the United States. This is an opportune time for such a conference because: (1) a multi-year study of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway System has just been completed (including a series of technical and policy studies related to navigation), and (2) one of the recommendations of the study was to further integrate inland waterway system planning with multimodal transportation system planning.

Project Objective

The goal of this project is to plan and conduct a national conference to be held in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 2009 that would expand the dissemination of knowledge about the inland waterway system and bring together many interested groups to help identify the future role of the inland waterway system in the United States. The conference will focus on navigation issues and benefits. Some of the potential themes of conference are: (1) the economic value of the inland waterway system to grain, coal, and other key commodities; (2) the future role of the waterway system in the multimodal freight system of the region and nation; and (3) constraints or issues that must be addressed before the multimodal freight transportation system can operate at maximum efficiency. Although the focus will be on navigation, the energy and environmental effects of freight movements by all modes will be considered.

The conference will be jointly sponsored by MPC and the University of Minnesota, with participation and guidance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other sponsors will be sought as the project unfolds. In addition to the on-site conference, a web page will be established to allow continuous collaboration before and after the conference. Summaries and proceedings will be available electronically, with widespread distribution.

Project Approach/Methods

Task 1- The initial step will be to establish a project planning committee, which will include: Robert Johns, University of Minnesota; Denver Tolliver, North Dakota State University; Rebecca Soileau, St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers; and Ronald Johnson—Seaway Port Authority of Duluth.

Task 2- The planning committee will identify a project steering committee with much broader representation. The steering committee may include agribusiness, coal, and other shipping interests; barge operators and vessel companies; state transportation departments; and USDOT (including USDOT agencies such as the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and/or MARAD). Once the steering committee is identified, this committee will plan the conference.

Task 3- The steering committee will refine the scope and themes of the conference. Although the conference is targeted primarily at interior regions within the spheres of influence of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Systems, it is intended to be national in scope—and, in particular, to encompass the Ohio River System and other interior regions affected by waterway transportation.

Task 4- The steering committee will indentify the key topics and issues for the conference that will lead to the development of a prospective program. From this prospectus, the need for presentations, panel sessions, and keynote addresses will be indentified.

Task 5- Once the program has been identified, the program participants (e.g., presenters, panel session leaders, and keynote speakers) will be identified. Cost estimates will be refined and speaker commitments will be sought.

Task 6- After task 5, the conference will be planned and widely marketed. A conference webpage will be created that will be maintained after the conference as a source of information on presentations and continued collaborations. Summaries and proceedings will be posted on the web page.

MPC Critical Issues Addressed

• Infrastructure Financing (12)
• Multimodal Policy and Investment Assessment (14)
• Environmental Impacts of Infrastructure (17)
• Economic Analysis of Investments and Impacts (18)

Contributions/Potential Applications

The conference will expand the breadth and depth of knowledge regarding inland waterway and multimodal freight transportation in the United States. In addition, the conference will serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas among many different agencies and groups with different perspectives. Moreover, it will improve communications among the various parties involved in inland waterway transportation. These interagency/intergroup contacts will provide benefits long after the conference has ended.

Technology Transfer Activities

In addition to the conference itself, the web page and follow up distribution of presentations and notes will provide benefits to those who could not attend the conference. The web page will include videos of select presentations or sessions that can be reviewed or watched by those who could not attend.

Time Duration

July 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009

Total Project Cost

$45,740

MPC Funds Requested

$18,000

TRB Keywords

Freight transportation, barge operations, multimodal systems, water transportation