While heavily-laden barges transport essential cargo down the center of a river, recreational craft ply the sides, and on the banks people fish, swim, and relax. The waterway system is the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation in America, perhaps the world. A single 1,500 ton barge can carry as much cargo as 15 large railroad cars and 58 large semi trucks. A 15 barge tow is equal to 225 train cars and 870 large semis. A 225 car train would be 2.75 miles in length.
Trucks cause significant damage to the highways, as well.
The fuel cost for a tow boat is much lower and the efficiency much higher than for railroad locomotives and trucks, too. A Strong Waterway System is Good for America Investment in the waterways infrastructure is too important to the Nation's economic well-being to relegate to a low priority in the American political agenda. Navigation, flood control, municipal and industrial water supply, hydropower, water recreation, coastal protection, and other water resources programs enhance trade and commerce, jobs and incomes, regional and national growth, export expansion, an enlarged tax base, etc. Tens of thousands of farms and coal-miners are direct beneficiaries of the waterway transportation system. Farmers are able to sell their corn, wheat, soybeans and other crops in markets at home and abroad because our transportation infrastructure, primarily waterways, is the most efficient and economical in the world, allowing U.S. producers to compete even though our production costs may be higher than that of other countries.