Framework Plan for Ohio Basin Navigation to 2020

By 2020, the need for transporting cargo on Ohio Region waterways will reach nearly 150 billion ton-miles, five times the region's 1965 waterborne traffic. To meet future needs, a framework plan and development program is formulated as a broad guide to the best use of navigation resources. Demand for navigation on the existing system is estimated for 1980, 2000, 2020, based generally on indices of projected industrial and household demand in basin subareas for five commodity groups representing the bulk of today's waterborne commerce. Projections for transport on potential new waterways are from recent detailed studies. Capabilities of going program facilities to serve the demand is evaluated. Based on future demand which cannot be met with these capabilities, a framework plan for further development of navigation resources is defined. Relating the urgency of need for the various plan elements to the evaluation years, results in a framework development program. Improvements needed to 2020, beyond those in the 1965 program, would cost about $1.81 billion. Framework program investment costs to 1980 would be $486,000,000.