Canada & US Release Joint Great Lakes & St Lawrence Seaway Study

As North America's economy and trade continue to grow, all modes of transportation will be faced with increases in traffic. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system has the capacity to carry twice the volume of its current traffic, and could be better used in combination with rail and trucking operations to provide a more efficient, effective and environmentally friendly way to transport goods. The study has produced many points to consider, from defining the significance of the Seaway system in meeting the current and future commercial transport needs to identifying how to maintain the infrastructure and operate the system in an environmentally sustainable fashion while reaching its maximum potential. The study's four major observations suggest that: 1. The GLSLSsystem has the potential to alleviate congestion on the road and rail transportation networks as well as at border crossings in the Great Lakes Basin and St. Lawrence River region. 2. A stronger focus on shortsea shipping would allow the GLSLSsystem to be more closely integrated with the road and rail transportation systems, while providing shippers with a cost-effective, timely and reliable means to transport goods. 3. The existing infrastructure of the GLSLSsystem must be maintained in good operating condition in order to ensure the continued safety, efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of the system. 4. The long-term health and success of the GLSLSsystem will depend in part on its sustainability, including the further reduction of negative ecological impacts caused by commercial navigation. The study is the result of collaboration between experts from seven federal departments and agencies in Canada and the U.S. The study involved an extensive examination of the infrastructure, economic and environmental issues that relate to this important water transportation system. The binational report on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Study is available at www.glsls-study.com. http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2007/07-h222e.htm

Note: www.glsls-study.com http://www.tc.gc.ca/med...