U.S. West Coast ports are critical to the national transportation freight network and global
supply chains. Changes in global shipping and disruptions at ports can create congestion
and economic hardship for shippers with resulting effects throughout supply chains. The
2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act provides freight policy goals, including
increasing U.S. economic competitiveness; reducing freight congestion; and improving the
safety, reliability, and efficiency of the freight network. The act also established new DOT
freight funding programs.
This report addresses: (1) how major U.S. West Coast ports have responded to recent
changes in global shipping; (2) how selected shippers have been impacted by and
responded to a recent port disruption, and (3) how DOT’s efforts support port cargo
movement and whether they can be improved. GAO conducted case studies of the
three major port regions on the West Coast; interviewed key stakeholders - such as port
authorities and state and local transportation agencies - for each region and 21 industry
representatives, and evaluated DOT’s freight efforts relative to criteria on using quality
information to support decision-making.
Find the full report here