Freight volumes nationwide are forecasted to double over the next 20-30 years, due primarily to unprecedented growth in global trade, particularly U.S. imports of Asian goods. While trucking, currently handling the majority of freight moved, will certainly increase - by up to 80% in the next 20 years according to estimates in the Oregon transportation plan - there is also an opportunity for expansion in, and shifts to, other modes of transportation, i.e. rail, water and air commerce. Maximizing freight mobility and optimizing the use of all modes will be critical to continuing economic prosperity in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
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