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Developing China’s Ports
Ports generally have a positive economic impact. However, they are also associated with negative effects, notably sharp rises in urban congestion as hinterland traffic flows to and from the port. The high percentage of freight flows in China using trucks contributes to urban congestion as well as to traffic accidents and delays. Traffic problems stem not just from freight traffic, but also from people commuting to work in the port or related industries. Congestion on urban roads can, in turn, make port activities less efficient. Thus, urban transport planning has been a major focus for port cities in China (photo 2.1). China has sought to mitigate the negative transportation impacts of ports on its cities in several ways. The first is by increasing the proportion of freight using rail and inland water transport, while decreasing the role of road transport. This objective has been carried out through several measures, including new railway infrastructure, a rail-connected dry port system, and improvements to the inland waterway network. At present, only a small percentage of container freight moves by rail, with few coastal ports having on-dock container rail yards; but in most ports bulk cargo moves by rail (photo 2.2). Although there have been some modal shifts away from road transportation, much remains to be done. In addition to incentives for the use of rail and inland water transport, there are other ways to discourage the use of road transportation, such as toll systems and the enforcement of weight limits on trucks. Cities can also impose surcharges or bans on the movement of trucks during peak hours, either citywide or in areas of the city where traffic congestion is particularly bad (a less preferable measure because it has a negative impact on port productivity). China has also sought to improve urban transport by PHOTO 2.1
Qingdao city and port
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