Transportation in the United States can be classified into Air, land and sea, since it is mainly facilitated by road, rail, water and air systems. This paper examines each of the abovementioned categories of transportation in the United States.
Air Transportation
Air transportation system, in the United States, is advanced, and it operates through almost 5,000 paved airfields. The large distances between main U.S. cities and the geography of the nations make air transportation remain the most preferred means of travel for long distances of over 480 KM.
The United States passenger airlines are owned by private entities. The state has more than 200 cargo airlines and domestic passenger. Besides, U.S. has several international carriers including American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines (Jones 6).
Southwest Airlines, which is a low-cost carrier, does not have any international routes, although, the airline’s domestic operations have developed to the extent that can be compared with leading international carriers (Blaha 1).
At present, there exist no government policies on ticket pricing. However, the federal regime maintains control over pilot training, accident investigation and airplane safety. Security, at the airports, gets provided by the transportation security administration. Ticket prices are usually competitive because there are many airlines rivaling for passengers on the same routes. This results in low profit margins, for the industry, which causes regular airline bankruptcies during phases of economic recession, rise of fuel prices, and other emergencies like terrorist attacks.
Most airlines run on a hub and spoke system, which offers a leading airline in a certain airport a powerful competitive position as it transports travelers to and from the hub, capitalizing on the amount of travelers on every flight. Some United States airline hubs consist of American Airlines in Dallas and US Airways in Charlotte.
Half of the busiest airports in the world with regard to passengers are found in U.S., such as, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Private jets become used by large corporations, government agencies and individuals for various purposes.
Local governments, in the U.S., build and operate public airports. However, military bases get constructed and run by a different body. The federal government, also, subsidizes air travel with funds, to support airport operations, similar to highways and passenger rail subsidies, which are discussed below.
Land Transportation
Land transport in the United States mainly uses roads and rail networks. The United States depends largely on roads for both personal and commercial transportation. Most citizens use cars, except in main cities where mass transit and railroad networks are broadly used. American citizens, who reside in cities mostly, use town Interstates to get to their work places.
Most residents use the national road system for most long-distance journeys including business and holiday travels. Each state, in America, has a role in sustaining road networks, although, they obtain federal support to construct and sustain freeways, as part of the national Interstate highway network agreement. In Midwestern and East Coast nations, most highways are run by the government or private toll roads.
In mid-twentieth century, passenger trains were the leading transportation form. However, in 1960s, the establishment of the Interstate Highway network led to a turn down in demand among intercity rail travelers. This, also, resulted to sharp restriction of passenger service through private railroads and the formation of National Railroad Passenger Corporation, by the federal administration, in order to uphold restricted intercity rail passenger overhauls in different regions of the state.
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation supplies most cities with train transportation. However, this Corporation never operates in a number of key destinations, such as, Arizona and Phoenix. Regular service can be accessed from area corridors between some main cities, especially the Northeast Corridor linking Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. A different intercity passenger railroad, in operation, is the Alaska Railroad. This rail road, however, is not connected to the National Railroad.
Lastly, land transport collaborates with sea transport when it comes to transporting commodities to the ports or from the ports.
Sea Transportation
Sea transportation in U.S. remains intermodal, implying that other modes of transportation, such as roads and rail, are required to transport commodities to the ports or from the ports. Sea transportation industry caters for the needs of both domestic and alien businesses. It consists of firms that carry passengers or cargo on inland waterways or the open seas, provide charter vessels and towing services, as well as, run terminals and canals. The transportation system comprises waterways and ports, as well as, their links to other transportation means, vessels and users of systems.
Nevertheless, sea transportation in the United Sates is mainly used for shipment. Some of the main seaports in the United States comprise Los Angeles, New Orleans, as well as, New York. Besides, U.S. has other shipping channels, inside the country, such as, Mississippi River system. Shipment on the Mississippi River system mainly comprises immense goods like cement, cereals and chemicals. Ferries in USA exist in most areas that can not be accessed through bridges, as well as, in crowded metropolitan regions, such as New York City. Passenger service links most islands in the nation and distant coastal regions. Also, there exist pleasurable and fishing boats, which traverse across many rivers and lakes in the country.
The U. S. has 41, 009 KM of navigable local channels including canals and rivers. At present, almost 24,150 KM of the Mississippi River system is navigable, although, a part of it does not serve commerce purposes. The main seaports in the United States are being restored, in order to serve commerce purposes.
In conclusion, air, land and sea transportation system, in the U.S. is well developed. First, air transportation system operates through almost 5,000 paved airfields and passenger airlines are owned by private entities. Second, land transport in the United States mainly uses roads and rail networks. Most citizens use cars, except in main cities where mass transit and railroad networks are broadly used. Lastly, sea transportation in the United Sates is mainly used for shipment.
Works Cited
Blaha, Vanessa. Low Cost Carriers - Evolution, Strategies and Performance. New York: GRIN Verlag, 2003.Print.
Jones, Geoff. The Big Six: US Airlines. Osceola, WI: MBI Pub. Co, 2000.Print.
