America’s economy, security, environment and quality of life are all dependent on a healthy marine transportation system. As the world’s largest economy continues an almost decade long period of unparalleled growth, the U.S. marine transportation system must keep pace to meet the demand of increased cargo and passenger movements.
With this in mind, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched the Marine Transportation System (MTS) initiative in 1998. Almost immediately, transportation experts applauded it as the first real attempt to examine the MTS as an integrated subsystem of our national transportation system. The MTS consists of waterways, ports and intermodal landside connections, as well as vessels and vehicles for moving freight and people. Until now, this system has been an amalgam of smaller independent, but not necessarily interdependent systems spread throughout the country. Regulation and administration have been the responsibility of many different groups and localities, and despite specific successes the MTS suffered from the lack of a national focus.
Today, the Department’s flagship initiative, MTS, is ensuring that America’s marine transportation system achieves the national focus required to support the level of traffic expected in the 21st century. We will accomplish this goal, and we will do so in a safe, environmentally sound and coordinated manner for a full range of users and stakeholders. The Department’s U.S. Maritime Administration and sister agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, have led this effort, in cooperation with other government agencies and the private sector, to build a mechanism that can identify and recommend solutions to system needs and problems.
The first step in this venture was formation of an MTS Task Force that proposed a framework to improve coordination at the national, regional and local levels. Since then, two committees have been formed, one public and one private, to provide action venues for industry and government agencies. Both committees are working to reach consensus on priorities, increase public awareness and establish a coordinated public-private agreement on a "smart growth" plan of action for our national waterway system. Ultimately, this plan of action for the Marine Transportation System will then be used to guide the Federal Agencies, Congressional Committees and Members, and stakeholders in their choices about the future of the system. Our waterway system is a valuable, but too often underutilized, national resource. With the right tools, direction and foresight it can be used to enhance our economy, protect our environment and provide users and consumers with expanded choices.
Not since Dwight Eisenhower envisioned the National Highway System has such a coordinated effort been made to examine and improve one segment of our overall transportation system. The MTS blueprint, when implemented fully, will foster continued prosperity for America’s next generations and signal our determination to remain a maritime nation with a bright future.