President Obama has introduced a Jobs Act to Congress designed to stimulate jobs growth with a focus on freight. Roads, railways, airports and sea ports will receive a huge investment, as the transport infrastructure is ‘failing.’
$27 billion of the investment is geared specifically for freight, for the restoration, repair and construction infrastructure. There will also be capital investments in surface freight infrastructure, including rail, ports and ‘projects which improve the efficiency of freight movement.’
The Act also establishes a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), which would be a government-owned entity, but is intended to be independent of the political process. One of its priorities will be to “promote greater efficiency in the movement of freight”.