NEW YORK REGIONAL INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING: INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES

The New York City metropolitan region comprises New York City itself, and surrounding counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. As anticipated in a metropolitan region that must simultaneously serve itself, while serving as a major international gateway, enormous quantities and types of freight are transported to and from the region. The main objective of this paper is to review the institutional structure of the transportation agencies in the New York City region, with particular emphasis on their ability to conduct intermodal freight transportation planning. The paper is comprised of three major sections and an introduction. In the first section, a brief description of the concerned agencies and their formal and informal interactions is provided. The adequacy of the current institutional structure is also examined. The second section attempts to provide an idea bout new governance structures that may enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of intermodal freight transportation in the New York region. The final section summarizes the major findings of this research.