Focusing on ports, intermodal shipping expert John Vickerman of TranSystems in his presentation wondered whether U.S. port facilities are prepared to handle a major boost in projected imports, primarily coming from Asia (particularly China). He said the amount of cargo shipped is expected to nearly triple over the next 20 years. As a result of increased trade, according to Vickerman, 75 percent of the nation's 16 major ports will have significant capacity problems by 2010.

Additional port congestion will ensure that the ports' record of far outpacing other U.S. industries as a source of nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate matter emissions is likely to worsen. Vickerman advocated some short-term solutions such as applying technology to make ports more efficient, creating dedicated freight lanes, and using clean marine fuels. But he argued that what the country urgently needs is a national balanced port planning policy that is based upon realistic cost-benefit and growth analyses, and includes comprehensive environmental mitigation strategies.

American President Lines CEO Ron Widdows provided a shipping industry perspective to goods movement challenges and the struggle to achieve environmentally friendly operations. Stressing that shipping is an industry driven by international standards, Widdows urged the federal government to take a leadership role in helping to untangle a web of often conflicting environmental requirements imposed upon shippers doing business in the U.S. by federal, state, and local authorities. He insisted that regulatory simplification would help shippers to better comply with environmental mandates and could streamline efforts to build and develop new U.S. ports and alleviate port congestion.

Widdows said the industry is making progress with "Pier Pass" systems, which provide financial incentives to shippers and truckers to move volume on nights and weekends, to reduce some of the congestion and idling that produces harmful emissions during daytime hours. He also noted that shipping companies, using sound barriers and computerized lighting systems, are working closely with communities to lessen noise and light pollution impacts from ports.

Community impacts were among several topics that Southern California Association of Governments Executive Director Mark Pisano addressed in his presentation summarizing the region's plan for reducing landside congestion near port facilities. He portrayed a goods movement industry that is valuable - it accounts for 1 of every 12 jobs in Southern California and has spawned just-in-time inventory systems that have helped shippers and retailers be more competitive - but also vulnerable to increasing congestion on area roads, which is expected to double by 2025, and railways.

Pisano and his colleagues have created a plan to address congestion through public and privately supported infrastructure investments, such as dedicated truck lanes and additional rail tracks, which would boost capacity in the region. Roughly one-third of the plan's $36 billion price tag would go toward clean fuel technologies and other environmental programs.

Funding, from the federal and state government and the private sector, for the plan's implementation is unclear. Port regions must deal with air quality issues first, according to Pisano, if they hope to gain community support for expanding facilities and operations tied to goods movement.

Jerilyn López Mendoza, policy director for Environmental Defense's Los Angeles office, described how the operations of ports, rail yards, and other logistics hubs negatively impact local residents, who are frequently low-income wage earners or people of color. She also outlined a community empowerment model for addressing and preventing environmental problems related to expanding such facilities.

López Mendoza described how a coalition of community, environmental, and labor organizations was determined to offset negative impacts from the modernization plan for the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) without resorting to litigation. Based upon a list of community proposals, and following months of negotiation, the coalition and LAX officials completed a $500 million Community Benefits Agreement. It produced improved soundproofing for homes and schools, diesel emission reductions from on- and off-road sources, and better public access to information about pollution studies and other aspects of the LAX expansion.

Dear TQ Readers:

Welcome to the second issue of TQ in its new electronic newsletter format. In this issue, we're focusing primarily on developments in goods movement and their implications for transportation leaders.

The choice to concentrate on the singular theme of goods movement is a timely one. Increasing imports and congestion in all modes are raising important questions about our freight infrastructure's ability to handle the rising tide of goods, particularly from Asia.

Environmental impacts associated with improving ports, roads, and other infrastructure elements must be considered as well. Goods movement leaders require special skills to respond to both the demands for increased capacity and concerns about the environment.

We hope the articles in this issue, including a recap of our recent "Efficient Goods Movement and the Environment" luncheon series and a Q&A with Geraldine Knatz, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, will encourage further discussion and debate about solutions for this critical area.

As always, we welcome your feedback about goods movement, and TQ in general.

Tom Downs
Eno Foundation President and CEO