Customer Reviews

Handbook of Transportation Policy and Administration (Public Administration and Public Policy)

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Last week, a cover article in US News and World Report talked about commuting in the US. How increasing vehicle ownership and usage has turned many cities into commuting nightmares. Starting with [no surprise!] Los Angeles.

Which is timely backdrop for this book. The editors look at the national situation of transportation and ask how it could be improved. Nor is this confined to roads. Air transport, ports and railways all get their say. For all 4 modalities, there has been sustained increased usage over recent decades. Drived in part by greater international trade or globalisation.

This has led to some ports like Long Beach and Los Angeles being heavily congested. One chapter discusses the upgrading of the Alameda corridor, which is a railway link going from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles. The current situation has huge bottlenecks for unloading the large cargo ships. Leading to delays and higher costs. As well as greater pollution by idling trucks.

That chapter about the Alameda corridor is instructive. For it shows how ports, rails and roads often have to be considered as closely related entities. At least where cargo is concerned.

The book also reflects our current times. Six chapters at the end are devoted to security. Protecting against terrorism. Railroads are seen as a crucial weakness. For much hazardous material is transported by train. Often, these routes go through or near heavily populated urban regions. Think Bhopal. Another aspect focusing much government attention is defending seaports against possible nukes arriving in cargo ships.