The region’s multimodal transportation system is central to the economic competitiveness and prosperity of the region. It’s an extensive network of highways, regional and urban roads, railroads and rail terminals, airports, marine ports and inland waterways, pipelines, and transit infrastructure and related services.

Most Great Lakes states and provinces, as well as the U.S. and Canadian federal governments, have developed long-range transportation plans and modal plans to support their growth and key cross-border trade corridors. What’s lacking is meaningful integration of these systems across the region, including passenger and freight transportation priorities.

This report, the second in a three part series, looks at the growing pressures on the region’s transportation systems, from capacity constraints, aging or inadequate infrastructure, outdated regulations, climate change, to institutional and regulatory fragmentation, technology, changing trade patterns. In addition, it proposes a different approach to improve system performance and make it more resilient and adaptable to an unknown future.

Release Date

March 13, 2017