Cantwell Unveils Report Citing Urgent Need to Improve Freight Infrastructure and Meet Growing Competition

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) visited Pacific Terminals to release a new report on the economic impacts of failing to invest in freight infrastructure. Cantwell stressed the critical need for freight infrastructure investment to ensure that U.S. businesses remain competitive in today's rapidly growing, increasingly interconnected worldwide economy.

"An economic shortfall of $1.3 trillion dollars loss in business sales could result due to the lack of infrastructure investment in waterways and ports -- over $270 billion lost in exports and over 700,000 fewer jobs by 2020 -- unless we make the right investments," said Cantwell "Freight-dependent businesses provide 1.5 million jobs and $129 billion in GDP for Washington. And freight that moves on multi-modes in Washington could grow by 77 percent, but that's why we need this smart investment--to make that growth happen."

Cantwell was joined by Port of Tacoma Commissioner Don Johnson, Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick, Maud Daudon, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Terminals General Manager Pat Cohn, all of whom stressed the importance of freight infrastructure and the need to establish a national freight strategy.

The report released, Meeting our Growing Competitiveness Challenge by Improving Freight Infrastructure Investment, found that the United States stands to lose $1.3 trillion in business sales from 2012 to 2020 due to sustained deterioration of the inland waterway and port transportation infrastructure. The report also discussed transportation infrastructure investments in the United States compared with global competitors like China and Canada.

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