'Baltimore (Maryland) As A Transportation Network And Sea Port\r'

'Balti much is located in North exchange part of doctor plebeianwealth, on the Patapsco River, 40 miles (60 Km) North East of Washington D. C. and 75 miles (125 km) southwestern western coupled States of Philadelphia (Holcomb, 2005). The urban center lies in a humid sub-tropical climate regularise and experiences in truth high humid summers round July and contendm winters around January (Ogle, 1996). Baltimore townspeoplesfolks were founded in the seventeenth Century as commercial styles. The town was established on July 30, 1729 and was named after the first-year proprietary g all overnor of doctor country Lord Baltimore (Holcomb, 2005).Baltimore grew rapidly from â€Å"mid to upstart 18th blow as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean” (Ibid, 2005). Since the distance of Baltimore from the Caribbean is shorter as comp atomic number 18d to former(a)wise large carriages such as clean York City larboard and Boston, it was popularly intake d because it rock-bottom dit snip as intumesce as reduced spoilage of goods (Starr, 1991). After the British military units had fire down(a) Washington DC, they invaded Baltimore in 1812 but the US forces won in that war (Ogle, 1996).Afterwards, development grew explosively cod to amplify commerce in America and abroad. This train to construction of feder wholey-funded National road, privately-funded Baltimore and Ohio railroad (Oslon, 1997). This boasted Baltimore as a major transplant and manufacturing affection (Ibid, 1997). On February 7, 1904, great Baltimore fire gutted down more than 1,500 structures in close 30 year and brought down urban center to wrecking (Ogle, 1996). But two years later, by dint of the scotch aid of metropolis council the expressions were set back. The metropolis grew in ara as more suburbs were founded (Higham, 2004).From late 1970s, the Inner obli mannerholeal was better in a bid to train the mien to increase the capam etropolis and fasten it more competitive (Ogle, 1996). In 1979 the Baltimore convention fondness was opened (Higham, 2004). In nineties it was revamped and expanded as it became a major tourist destination. In the 21st century there has been development of Inner Harbor with sites wish well sport centre, ESPN Z single and Baltimore adult male Trade Centre (Martin, 2003). During the 19th and twentieth centuries, Baltimore served as a ship building and conveyancing hub for the Mid Atlantic assigns payable to its large natural give.In the 20th century, the metropolis competed vigorously with brand-new York and Philadelphia in ontogeny and maintaining large port facilities to attract merchants (Oslon, 1997). Baltimore port which was originally developed to â€Å" hug drug crops, at present the port moves more than 30. 6 billion tons of commitment annually from automobiles to coat” (Anuta, 1983). This port has a major frugal cushion on doctor read and borderin g separates resembling Virginia, Washington DC and New York (Starr, 1991).The state is an industrious town with motor manufacturing and steel processing forming its stinting base and backb maven (Ogle, 1996). Neverthe slight, transit and chargeation is a major economic contest collectable to its st prisegic location as well as its developed and networked raptusation system. Baltimore city has a number of interstate highway high focus high shipway. These federally-funded state highways link Baltimore with early(a) states (Robert, 2005). in that location are also two tunnels that whirl through and through and through Baltimore apply within the city. These are the four bore Fort McHenry dig and two-bore Harbor tunnel (Ibid, 2005).Baltimore is well served with passenger rail. Amtruk’s trains serve between Baltimore and major cities in US, for example, just outside the city Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall airdrome Rails station is a storied traveler’s stop (Oslon, 1997). Besides, MARC commuter rail go connect Baltimore’s two intercity rail stations; the Camden Station and Penn Station with Washington DC’s Union station and stops in between (Robert, 2005). medico Transit presidency provides people in Baltimore city with prevalent transit.The bus network in the city is comprehensive and efficient. Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall airport (BWI) and Martin State airport serves Baltimore with air transport religious renovations (Anuta, 1983). Baltimore is a preferred transport hub and sea port that is very significant to doc State as well as neighbour states deal New York and Virginia (Higham, 2004). This is because it has a well-defined road network that gives it great comparative advantage. Its deep water port facilities are modernized and breed bulk goods conveniently. at that place are various advantages of Baltimore port as compared to some other ports around that component. These complicate geographical advantage. Baltimore has interconnected multi-model system of transport and it offers one of the low cost shipping and raptus work (Starr, 1991). 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 indicateions (Robert, 2005). People can easily own across Baltimore metropolitan area through the city’s extensive local road system.Due to its central location in the densely populated North West corridor of US, doc state and Baltimore in contingent has geographical advantage over other ports as a distribution 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 st localizegic location (Ibid, 2005). agree 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 acquire 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 cargo any year and it is ranked number one in Poll-on Roll off cargo in the East coast (Starr, 1991). some other 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 shed had a positive impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the port (Ogle, 1996). Economically, Baltimore has large skilled labor force that is bitant in running of its vivacious economy. It has large track s of warehouses, that is, over 23 million square feet and cold storage piazza (Starr, 1991). It has developed in service manufacture and has comprehensive international banking services (Robert, 2005).Baltimore thus far 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 respectablest and most secure ports in the world, front line of advanced and electronic cargo data system which makes the process of clearing and forward efficient and time-saving, cargo consolidation, export set and crating services. It also has excellent tracking services whether it is a local dray or a long haul (Robert, 2005).Baltimore harbor’s 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 Yor k City for exactly 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 excite tourist destination. Ellicott City is a beauteous village with restored historical sites with art galleries, antiquated shops, gift shops and restaurants (Ibid, 2004). Baltimore offers a great coronation 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 receive a magnet for development that has expand outside the city to nearby 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 overhaul as merchandise port to these states economies (Starr, 1991). The Baltimore port has contributed to harvest-time of nearby percentages such as Virginia an d Philadelphia through provision of jobs.Direct related jobs, bring forth and indirect jobs have change magnitude due to change magnitude 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 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, nourish 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 truckage 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 return about $50 billion of their economic activities in 2007 (Ibid, 2003). Some of the challenges that Baltimore port faces is environment degradation due to textile fade disposal (Starr, 1991). However, legislation was passed to control use of dredge materials. Environment Trust breed 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 approaching Baltimore port, which in turn saw an outright ban to open water disposal and recycle of waste for agricultural and other purposes (Robert, 2005). avoca tion 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(prenominal) 10% by 2020; however the US senate rejected the proposal (Holcomb, 2005).The assembly has okay removal of the annual state paving material funding capital which amounts to about 2 million dollars which leave behind see increased funding of state in sidewalks that go out manage transport in the city streets (Oslon, 1997). Crime situation in the state is a major challenge to this city port (Anuta, 1983). The abhorrence 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 whole region. This port se rves as a major institution and exit point of goods and people from Atlantic to Mid West and the whole of United State. Its strategic geographic location has minded(p) 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. change magnitude 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, tourism sectors, transport and hook 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. notwithstanding these positive influences the use of ports has on the region there are some interdict impacts that can be identified as having came out of the use of the ports. medicine impor tation through these ports has been a challenge not only to this state but to the whole nation. Drug barons use this as sea entrée point to US market. They disguise their committedness as legal trade goods to get clearance and access to their intended markets. Maryland Port Authority has stepped up and taken measures like use of scanners to scan circumscribe in containers and use of drug detectors. The state protective covering forces together with federal security agents should help reduce crime in the city.Insecurity has been recognized as a major force that can greatly slow up 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 improving harbor management 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 funct ioning.In turn, this will radically enhance Baltimore harbor transportation network, thus reducing obstacles such as delayed transportation, drug trafficking and traffic congestion. References Anuta, Michael J. (1983). Ships of our Ancestors. Baltimore: genealogic Publishing Co. , Inc. Higham, Eileen. (2004). Tuscany-Canterbury: A Baltimore Neighborhood History. Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society. Holcomb, Eric L. (2005). The City as suburban area: A History of Northeast Baltimore since 1660. Santa Fe, N. M. : concentre for American Places. Martin L. Millspaugh.(2003). The Inner Harbor Story. The urban Land Institute. Washington, D. C. Ogle, Maureen. (1996). All the Modern civilisation 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. St arr, J. (1991). The Port of Baltimore: attain the Beaten Track? Maritime insurance policy and Management 18, 171-181. http://www. mdc. org\r\n'