In the article “The role of government in fostering intermodal transport innovations: perceived lessons and obstacles in the United States,” the authors have expansively highlighted key tenets of transport innovations in the United States. In this essence, the authors have discussed various trends aimed at validating the essence of implementing proactive policies necessary for fostering intermodal transport innovation (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). Based on the presented discussions, it has been emphasized that such measures can help boost the competitive edge of the American economy, thus fostering the crucial role played by freight transportation. This is attributed to the fact that they can be utilized as agents of economic development. Further, the proposed approach by the authors can also help in the reduction of negative health and environmental externalities that are mainly produced by various freight transportation activities (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). On this basis, I agree with the sentiments that have been expressed by the authors. Based on the presented discussions, the authors emphasize that the transport industry is a free market economy that has largely been limited in its ability to deliver key innovations necessary for intermodal transportation. Therefore, the intervention by the government is necessary for fostering such intermodal transport innovations.
Even though intermodal transportation is a free market economy, the interventions by the government cannot be underestimated. This is attributed to the fact that the United States is one of the major producers of transportation innovation and research. Therefore, the intervention by the government can play a key role in addressing the arising systematic challenges that may be crippling freight transportation (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). This phenomenon can be evidenced by the previous instances where the National Science Foundation intervened by sponsoring various projects addressing different needs in freight transportation. Furthermore, the National Science Foundation has also in the previous instances partnered with the United States Department of Transportation. Such approaches have helped in opening new frontiers for the funding of high-risk research in transportation (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). Therefore, this demonstrates the crucial role played by government intervention in fostering intermodal transport given that such high-risk research is usually not prioritized by the existing funding sources in transportation (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). This implies that only the intervention by the government can help in fostering innovations that may play a crucial role in intermodal transport. It is for this reason that according to the United States Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation was spent in excess of $192 million on development contracts and research (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). According to the highlighted budget breakdown, it is clear that the respective agencies usually conduct their research and innovation approaches with an explicit emphasis on freight transportation. For instance, the Federal Highway Administration is a notable agency that has been focusing its research on surface transportation.
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On an additional note, it should be noted that the departments of transportation have also been participating and supporting applied transportation research. This has primarily been aimed at enhancing its routine operations and also improving the maintenance. Therefore, such cases highlighted by the authors clearly show the role that has been played by government interventions in fostering innovations in intermodal transport. Historically, the government played a crucial role in the development of nuclear power. However, the key technological developments for the Department of Defense (DOD) has primarily been driven by the industry. Therefore, this illustrates the catalyst role that has been played by the government in promoting intermodal transport innovations (Holguín-Veras, Paaswell & Perl, 2008). Considering that the existing conventional funding sources do not prioritize a majority of the innovation researches, the authors maintain that the government can address such existing limitations to help in delivering such innovations (Monios, 2016). This can be achieved by proving the needed funding for conducting expensive researches concerning each innovation.
References
Holguín-Veras, J., Paaswell, R., & Perl, A. (2008). The role of government in fostering intermodal transport innovations: perceived lessons and obstacles in the United States. The Future of Intermodal Freight Transport. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar , 302-24.
Monios, J. (2016). Institutional challenges to intermodal transport and logistics: governance in port regionalisation and hinterland integration . Routledge.
