Senior North American executives from aviation, rail, highway, and maritime operations as well as third party, customer-shipper, labor, and environmental experts were invited to participate in panel presentations at the Summit. In addition, industry executives and ITI and guest faculty joined the three transportation secretaries in a concluding Roundtable Discussion. The Summit provided many realistic perspectives on the progress that has been made in achieving intermodalism. Such a system will enhance national and regional competitiveness in the global economy. Historically, national transportation systems have been built on the basis of separate modes.
Different modes have different strengths and weaknesses.
Public policy as well as public and private investment should support the expansion of an intermodal system that will build on the strengths of each mode while reducing the overall adverse impacts of transportation. Existing transportation systems have contributed greatly to national development and to individual well being. Nevertheless, these systems confront nagging problems of congestion, pollution, safety and security, and energy consumption. Because of different national conditions, cultures, and values, no single set of prescriptions is appropriate. Appropriate new policies can be devised, however, through the creation of enhanced levels of cooperation in transportation by governments, key stakeholders, and the public.