Opportunities for Large Savings by Altering Some Inland Waterway Operations

Many federal, state, and private drawbridges or locks are operated 24 hours a day despite little or no boat traffic during predictable periods. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates operations of drawbridges along navigable waterways, and the Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains some inland waterway routes and owns and operates some bridges and locks. In many instances the cost to maintain unobstructed navigation at all time is enormous, and considerable savings could be realized with little impact on navigation if such services were reduced or eliminated.