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Intermodal Freight Transportation: Projects and Planning Issues

NSIAD-96-159 Published: Jul 09, 1996. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 1996.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed intermodal freight transportation issues, focusing on: (1) the Department of Transportation's (DOT) efforts to track how states use Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) funds to facilitate intermodal transportation; (2) the nature and extent of ISTEA funds used by states for intermodal freight projects; (3) how some local and regional areas that handle large volumes of freight have considered intermodal freight transportation issues as part of their planning processes; (4) impediments some areas face in improving intermodal freight transportation; and (5) trends in intermodal freight transportation.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should establish a definition of freight intermodal projects.
Closed – Implemented
DOT concurred in part with this recommendation.
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should ensure that the database on intermodal investments required by Title V of ISTEA is developed and maintained in accordance with the statute.
Closed – Implemented
The recommendation was fully implemented.

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Topics

Federal aid for transportationFreight transportationIntergovernmental relationsIntermodal transportationRailroad transportation operationsRegional planningTransportation industryTransportation planningTrucking operationsIntermodal