Special Report 297: Funding Options for Freight Transportation Projects

Written by the Transportation Research Board for the Committee for the Study of Funding Options
for Freight Transportation Projects of National Significance

This report illustrates existing and proposed guidelines for Freight Infrastructure funding.
"This study will analyze the rationale for public investment and evaluate financing strategies
for freight transportation projects of national significance."

Step 3 - Summary pp. 15

"Building or paying for infrastructure seldom is the only option for fulfilling the government
responsibility. Regulation, taxation, pricing, and closer public–private cooperation can
mitigate problems of pollution and congestion without shifting cost burdens for commercial
facilities to the public. For example, government could reduce freight market distortions that
affect competition among the rail, truck, and water modes by charging users of public freight
facilities (highways and waterways) fees that more closely correspond to the cost of providing
service to each user."

Step 6 - Summary pp. 17

"Federal policy should encourage and provide incentives for development of local and facility
specific revenue sources to pay for construction and operation of freight facilities."