Engaging State Departments of Transportation in Funding Improvements on Inland Waterways

This paper summarizes the findings of research conducted for the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) that produced a master plan for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Texas (GIWW-T). The project (a) established a baseline for the condition and utilization of the GIWW-T; (b) examined the major operational concerns, mostly related to dredging and navigational safety; (c) investigated the impacts of operational obstacles; (d) determined what is needed to restore the GIWW-T to and sustain its optimum level; (e) investigated potential economic and legislative limitations; and (f) recommended potential courses of action that might enable the Texas DOT to play an active role in achieving a highly efficient and safe GIWW-T. A working group of GIWW-T stakeholders informed the research. Participants included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, port authorities, the Texas DOT, and barge industry representatives.