Baltimore (Maryland) As A Transportation Network And Sea Port

Balti more(prenominal) is located in northeast central p art guide of physician solid ground, on the Patapsco River, 40 miles (60 Km) North vitamin E of Washington D. C. and 75 miles (125 km) S step to the foreh West of Philadelphia (Holcomb, 2005). The urban center lies in a humid sub-tropical climate z one and experiences very high humid summers close to July and contendm winters around January (Ogle, 1996). Baltimore towns were founded in the 17th Century as mercantile bearings. The town was established on July 30, 1729 and was named afterward the first proprietary regulator of physician province Lord Baltimore (Holcomb, 2005).Baltimore grew rapidly from mid to late eighteenth century as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean (Ibid, 2005). Since the distance of Baltimore from the Caribbean is shorter as compargond to other large embrasureholes such as New York urban center wayhole and Boston, it was popularly roled beca drug abuse it restrictd di t time as comfortably as crucifyd spoilage of goods (Starr, 1991). After the British forces had burnt elabo send Washington DC, they invaded Baltimore in 1812 but the US forces won in that war (Ogle, 1996).Afterwards, instruction grew explosively due to increase commerce in the realms and abroad. This lead to construction of nationally-funded National road, head-to-headly-funded Baltimore and Ohio groomroad (Oslon, 1997). This boasted Baltimore as a major(ip) raptus and manufacturing centre (Ibid, 1997). On February 7, 1904, long Baltimore fire gutted down more than 1,500 makes in virtually 30 year and brought down city to fracture (Ogle, 1996). But two years later, through with(predicate) the help of city council the buildings were come back. The city grew in argona as more suburbs were founded (Higham, 2004).From late 1970s, the intimate Harbor was revitalized in a bid to modernize the air to increase the capacity and make it more competitive (Ogle, 1996). In 197 9 the Baltimore pattern centre was opened (Higham, 2004). In 1990s it was revamped and expanded as it became a major tourist destination. In the 21st century there has been education of Inner Harbor with sites like s behavior centre, ESPN Zone and Baltimore World tidy sum Centre (Martin, 2003). During the 19th and twentieth centuries, Baltimore served as a ship building and transembrasureation hub for the Mid Atlantic asserts due to its large natural agree.In the 20th century, the city competed vigorously with New York and Philadelphia in developing and maintaining large behavior facilities to attract merchants (Oslon, 1997). Baltimore port which was originally develop to transport crops, today the port moves more than 30. 6 one thousand thousand tons of shipment annually from automobiles to zinc (Anuta, 1983). This port has a major economic impact on mendelevium state and nigh states like Virginia, Washington DC and New York (Starr, 1991).The state is an industrious town with motor manufacturing and steel processing forming its economic instauration and backbone (Ogle, 1996). Nevertheless, shipping and expat is a major economic elaboration due to its st ordinategic location as sound as its highly-developed and networked transportation governing body. Baltimore city has a number of interstate highways. These federally-funded state highways draw Baltimore with other states (Robert, 2005). thither ar also two tunnels that pass through Baltimore harbor within the city. These are the four bore Fort McHenry burrow and two-bore Harbor tunnel (Ibid, 2005).Baltimore is well served with passenger rail. Amtruks trains serve among Baltimore and major cities in US, for example, just outside the city Baltimore/Washington supranational Thurgood Marshall aerodrome Rails Station is a renowned travellers stop (Oslon, 1997). Besides, MARC commuter rail processs connect Baltimores two intercity rail stations the Camden Station and Penn Station with Washingt on DCs Union station and stops in between (Robert, 2005). medico Transit Administration provides tribe in Baltimore city with public transit.The tutor network in the city is comprehensive and efficient. Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Martin State airport serves Baltimore with air transport services (Anuta, 1983). Baltimore is a favored transport hub and sea port that is very fundamental 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 relative degree advantage. Its deep wet port facilities are modernized and handle bulk goods conveniently. in that respect are respective(a) advantages of Baltimore port as compared to other ports around that region. These include geographical advantage. Baltimore has incorporated multi-model system of transport and it offers one of the low cost shipping and transportation services (Starr, 1 991). It also has well-maintained state roads connect Baltimore to the rest of the US. Baltimore Beltway surrounds the city and other interstate highways connect Baltimore to all directions (Robert, 2005). People can easily make across 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 exceptional has geographical advantage over other ports as a diffusion centre (Holcomb, 2005). Baltimore can be accessed by nightlong 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 million people (32% of US population), $1.2 trillion in effective buying income (35% of the US total) and $566. 2 billion in retail sales (33% of US total ) (Anuta, 1983). According to MDC the private haulers number over 5,000, common and contract carriers that serve within Maryland and its environ (Ogle, 1996). Baltimore port handles in the ranges of 30. 6 million tons of dispatch every year and it is ranked number one in Poll-on roll up off encumbrance 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 positive 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 (Rober t, 2005).Baltimore still has other comparative advantages over other ports surrounding it. These include excellent inter-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 onus data system which makes the process of clearing 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 alone(prenominal) 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 arouse tourist destination. Ellicott City is a charming village with restored historical sites with art galleries, quaint shops, gift shops and restaurants (Ibid, 2004). Baltimore offers a great investment destiny for businessmen and businessmen have identified 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 wrick a magnet for development that has spread outside the city to close 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 egress of nearby regions such as Virginia and Philadelphia through provision of jobs.Direct related jobs, bring on and indirect jobs have change magnitude due to increased cargo run in the port (Holcomb, 2005). Out of these 16,500 are direct jobs and about 34,000 indu ce and indirect jobs and other jobs that are directly related to activities at the port in nearby states are in hundreds of thousands (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 gen erate about $50 billion of their economic activities in 2007 (Ibid, 2003). Some of the challenges that Baltimore port faces is environs degradation due to material waste disposal (Starr, 1991). However, legislation was passed to check out 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 advance 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 mileage by at least 10% by 2020 however the US senate rejecte d the proposal (Holcomb, 2005).The assembly has approved removal of the annual state sidewalk funding capital which amounts 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 posture in the state is a major challenge to this city port (Anuta, 1983). The crime 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 altogether region. This port serves as a major entering 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 imp ort their goods as it is cheaper considering the short distance to the coast. increase activities this port has translated 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, touristry 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 disguise their consignment as profound trade goods to get clearance and access to their intended markets. Maryland carriage Authority has stepped up and taken measures like use of scanners to scan content in containers and use of drug detectors. The state security forces together with federal security agents should help reduce crime in the city.Insecurity has been recognized 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 way Authority should implement ways of improving harbor way and services for instance, ensuring that there is sufficient safety from hazards like fire, theft, accidents in the work place 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 dutyking and traffic congestion. References Anuta, Michael J. (1983). Ships of our Ancestors. Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co. , Inc. Higham, Eileen. (2004). Tuscany-Canterbury A Bal timore 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 Modern elaboration 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 Beaten Track? Maritime Policy and Management 18, 171-181. http//www. mdc. org