Baltimore (Maryland) As A Transportation Network And Sea Port

Baltimore is located in north virtually central part of doc soil, on the Patapsco River, 40 miles (60 Km) North East of Washington D. C. and 75 miles (125 km) South West of Philadelphia (Holcomb, 2005). The urban center lies in a humid sub-tropical mood z peerless and experiences very high humid summers around July and warm winters around January (Ogle, 1996). Baltimore towns were founded in the 17th atomic number 6 as commercial airs. The town was established on July 30, 1729 and was named after the first proprietary goernor of medico province Lord Baltimore (Holcomb, 2005).Baltimore grew rapidly from mid to late 18th century as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean (Ibid, 2005). Since the distance of Baltimore from the Caribbean is shorter as compared to an otherwise(prenominal) outstanding behaviors such as New York urban center porthole wine and Boston, it was popularly used because it reduced transportation time as well as reduced spoilage of goo ds (Starr, 1991). After the British forces had burnt down Washington DC, they invaded Baltimore in 1812 but the US forces won in that war (Ogle, 1996).Afterwards, development grew explosively due to increase commerce in America and abroad. This lead to structure of federally- shoped National road, privately-funded Baltimore and Ohio railroad (Oslon, 1997). This boasted Baltimore as a major shipping and manufacturing centre (Ibid, 1997). On February 7, 1904, massive(p) Baltimore raise gutted down more than 1,500 buildings in about 30 year and brought down city to ruin (Ogle, 1996). moreover cardinal years later, through the help of city council the buildings were set back. The city grew in area as more suburbs were founded (Higham, 2004).From late 1970s, the Inner maintain was revitalized in a bid to modernize the port to increase the capacity and make it more competitive (Ogle, 1996). In 1979 the Baltimore convention centre was opened (Higham, 2004). In 1990s it was revamped and expanded as it became a major tourist destination. In the 21st century thither has been development of Inner Harbor with sites like sport centre, ESPN Zone and Baltimore World Trade Centre (Martin, 2003). During the nineteenth and 20th centuries, Baltimore served as a ship building and transportation hub for the mid(prenominal) Atlantic invokes due to its intumescent natural harbor.In the 20th century, the city competed vigorously with New York and Philadelphia in developing and maintaining large port facilities to draw out merchants (Oslon, 1997). Baltimore port which was originally true to transport crops, today the port moves more than 30. 6 zillion hemorrhoid of cargo annually from automobiles to zinc (Anuta, 1983). This port has a major economic doctor on Maryland state and near states like Virginia, Washington DC and New York (Starr, 1991).The state is an industrious town with take manufacturing and steel processing forming its economic base and backbone (Ogle, 19 96). Nevertheless, shipping and transportation is a major economic exactment due to its strategic mess as well as its certain and networked transportation system. Baltimore city has a number of interstate highways. These federally-funded state highways link Baltimore with other states (Robert, 2005). There are similarly two tunnels that pass through Baltimore harbor within the city. These are the four bore Fort McHenry Tunnel and two-bore Harbor tunnel (Ibid, 2005).Baltimore is well served with passenger rail. Amtruks trains serve between Baltimore and major cities in US, for example, just right(prenominal) the city Baltimore/Washington Inter depicted object Thurgood Marshall Airport Rails Station is a renowned travelers stop (Oslon, 1997). Besides, MARC commuter rail run connect Baltimores two intercity rail send the Camden Station and Penn Station with Washington DCs Union station and stops in between (Robert, 2005). Maryland Transit Administration provides people in Baltim ore city with public transit.The bus network in the city is schoolwide and efficient. Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Martin State airport serves Baltimore with air transport services (Anuta, 1983). Baltimore is a preferred transport hub and sea port that is very important to Maryland State as well as neighboring states like New York and Virginia (Higham, 2004). This is because it has a well-defined road network that gives it great comparative profit. Its deep water port facilities are modernized and handle bulk goods conveniently.There are various(a) advantages of Baltimore port as compared to other ports around that region. These include geographic advantage. Baltimore has interconnected multi-model system of transport and it withdrawers one of the low cost shipping and transportation services (Starr, 1991). It also has well-maintained state roads connect Baltimore to the balance of the US. Baltimore Beltway surrounds the city and other interstate highways connect Baltimore to all directions (Robert, 2005). People can easily make crossways Baltimore metropolitan area through the citys extensive local road system.Due to its central location in the densely populated North West corridor of US, Maryland state and Baltimore in particular has geographical advantage over other ports as a distribution centre (Holcomb, 2005). Baltimore can be accessed by overnight tracks that haul goods to major markets of North East, South East and Mid West due to the strategic location (Ibid, 2005). According to Maryland Distribution Council (http//www. mdc. org) the consumer market that is within overnight reach of Maryland state represents a whooping 80 one thousand thousand people (32% of US population), $1.2 trillion in effective buying income (35% of the US total) and $566. 2 one thousand thousand in retail sales (33% of US total) (Anuta, 1983). According to MDC the private haulers number over 5,000, common and contract carriers th at serve within Maryland and its environ (Ogle, 1996). Baltimore port handles in the ranges of 30. 6 million tons of cargo every year and it is ranked number one in Poll-on Roll off cargo in the East coast (Starr, 1991). Another comparative advantage is the technological advances in the port that has computerized its operations.The port boasts the use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), hand held computers, computerized gate computers and scanners which in a great way have had a controlling impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the port (Ogle, 1996). Economically, Baltimore has large skilled labor force that is important in running of its vibrant economy. It has large tracks of warehouses, that is, over 23 million square feet and cold storage space (Starr, 1991). It has developed in service industry and has comprehensive international banking services (Robert, 2005).Baltimore still has other comparative advantages over other ports surrounding it. These include glorious i nter-model connections by water, rail and tunnel, rail service that is on-dock at all terminals provided by CSX and Norfolk Southern, is rated as one of the safest and most secure ports in the world, presence of advanced and electronic cargo data system which makes the process of unclutter and forwarding efficient and time-saving, cargo consolidation, export parking and crating services. It also has excellent tracking services whether it is a local dray or a long haul (Robert, 2005).Baltimore harbors importance to neighboring states like New York City and Virginia are numerous. With the well-maintained interstate highways one can drive to Baltimore from New York City for only two hours, and less than one hour from Washington DC (Higham, 2004). There are also options to use trains or fly into the city. The city offers exciting tourist destination. Ellicott City is a charming colony with restored historical sites with art galleries, quaint shops, gift shops and restaurants (Ibid, 20 04). Baltimore offers a great investment destiny for business community and businessmen have determine the city for investment.Investors from New York and neighboring states are investing in hotels, transport and other services (Ogle, 1996). The Baltimore port ahs become a magnet for development that has spread outside the city to nigh states like Virginia (Oslon, 1997). This is because of the ability to handle large bulk of goods that are shipped into these states for development and also serving as exporting port to these states economies (Starr, 1991). The Baltimore port has contributed to growth of nearby regions such as Virginia and Philadelphia through provision of jobs.Direct tie in jobs, induced and indirect jobs have increase due to increased cargo movement in the port (Holcomb, 2005). Out of these 16,500 are direct jobs and about 34,000 induced and indirect jobs and other jobs that are directly think to activities at the port in nearby states are in hundreds of thousa nds (Anuta, 1983). Through taxes paid by businesses that engage in shipping, handling, transporting, importing and exporting goods, Maryland State and neighboring regional states, get tax revenues that greatly help them fund their budgets (Higham, 2004).Baltimore port has enabled growth of service sectors in Maryland state and other states (Oslon, 1997). These sectors that developed include banking, insurance, admiralty, law, maritime services, consignee service and surface transport (Ibid, 1997). This has impacted an increased business income of participants like national trucking firms, freight forwarders and bankers. The value of the port of Baltimore to neighboring states has increased due to increased due to increased cargo moving via the port into these states (Martin, 2003).Through the port goods are exported and imported into these states that generate about $50 billion of their economic activities in 2007 (Ibid, 2003). Some of the challenges that Baltimore port faces is en vironment degradation due to material bobble electric pig (Starr, 1991). However, legislation was passed to control waste of dredge materials. Environment Trust Fund was set up to fund building of a site for the disposal of the material dredged from the shipping channels leading to Baltimore harbor (Anuta, 1983).Environment impact statement was prepared after public hearing, where citizens proposed provision of commercial shipping by maintaining channels come near Baltimore port, which in turn saw an outright prohibition to open water disposal and recycling of waste for agricultural and other purposes (Robert, 2005). Traffic congestion is another challenge that faces the city and Maryland state in general. There was a bill that proposed state local and regional transportation plans to reduce vehicle gas mileage by at least 10% by 2020 however the US senate rejected the proposal (Holcomb, 2005).The fiction has approved removal of the annual state sidewalk funding capital which a mounts to about 2 million dollars which will see increased funding of state in sidewalks that will manage transport in the city streets (Oslon, 1997). Crime situation in the state is a major challenge to this city port (Anuta, 1983). The law-breaking statistics for 2005 revealed approximately 269 homicides which is about seven times the normal rate (Starr, 1991). Generally overall crime rate have worked hard to reduce crime activities and give the city a safe environment (Martin, 2003).Conclusion Baltimore port is a very important not only to the Maryland state but to the entire region. This port serves as a major entry and exit point of goods and people from Atlantic to Mid West and the whole of United State. Its strategic geographic location has given it a comparative advantage over rival ports. Many of businesses around the region use these ports to export or import their goods as it is cheaper considering the short distance to the coast. Increased activities this port has tran slated to economic growth in the region.The impact of the use of the Baltimore ports on the regional economies can be identified in sectors such as, tourism sectors, transport and haulage sectors, banking and other financial service sectors as well as public sector. More service industries are developed in Maryland and nearby estates to support the growth brought by enhanced use of this port. Despite these positive influences the use of ports has on the region there are some negative impacts that can be identified as having came out of the use of the ports.Drug importation through these ports has been a challenge not only to this state but to the whole nation. Drug barons use this as sea entry point to US market. They suppress their consignment as legal trade goods to get clearance and access to their intended markets. Maryland air Authority has stepped up and taken measures like use of scanners to scan contents in containers and use of medicine detectors. The state security forc es together with federal security agents should help reduce crime in the city.Insecurity has been accept as a major force that can greatly decelerate the rate of development in the city. Investors flee areas that they know their investments are not safe. Maryland Port Authority should implement ways of better harbor management and services for instance, ensuring that there is sufficient safety from hazards like fire, theft, accidents in the work key out as well as ensuring that information technology system is up-to-date and fully functioning.In turn, this will radically enhance Baltimore harbor transportation network, thus reducing obstacles such as delayed transportation, drug merchandiseking and traffic congestion. References Anuta, Michael J. (1983). Ships of our Ancestors. Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co. , Inc. Higham, Eileen. (2004). Tuscany-Canterbury A Baltimore Neighborhood History. Baltimore Maryland Historical Society. Holcomb, Eric L. (2005). The City as Suburb A History of Northeast Baltimore since 1660. Santa Fe, N. M. Center for American Places. Martin L. Millspaugh.(2003). The Inner Harbor Story. The Urban Land Institute. Washington, D. C. Ogle, Maureen. (1996). All the juvenile Civilization Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University Press. Olson, Sherry H. (1997). Baltimore The Building of an American City. Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press. Robert C. Keith (2005). Baltimore Harbor A Pictorial History. Third Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. Starr, J. (1991). The Port of Baltimore Off the beat Track? Maritime Policy and Management 18, 171-181. http//www. mdc. org