Logistics Infrastructure Challenges Coursework Assignment (Coursework Sample)

Logistics Infrastructure Challenges
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Logistics Infrastructure Challenges
The United States has many urbanized metropolises and upcoming terminals and centers that are also the administrative and economic hubs of most States in the US (O’Connor, 2010, p. 134). Similarly, the towns and cities are arguably characterized by their uniqueness in resource endowment, broad range of developmental challenges and long history of survival. In fact, infrastructural construction, and maintenance was for many decades a challenge in the US (O’Connor, 2010, p. 138). Currently, this vital sector is in a dilapidated state, not to mention the need for sustainable improvements in terms of repair and installation of new systems in a steadily growing population and urbanization.
The infrastructural landscape of the country that is cross-cutting in all the states is underscored by the old and inadequate surface transportation structures (O’Connor, 2010, p. 139). As a result, highway congestion, jams, and related opportunity and time losses have been common in the US for the past periods of economic slump. Besides, the rampant road carnages coupled with exorbitant fuel taxes and high pump prices has made the management and construction of efficient and durable infrastructure in the US a necessity.
The multiple agencies with no central coordination and bureaucratic regulatory policies and laws have proven a hurdle to the rapid advancement of the sector (Porter, & Rivkin, 2012, p. 55). Similarly, the inadequate political will across the country in the past Administrations have not been able to enact proactive plans and formulate such policies for the improvement of US critical Infrastructure. Moreover, ever increasing population in the US has proved to be overstretching the limited government budget further causing the transport and communication menace occasionally experienced in the US.
Proposal assumptions
The assumptions to be made in the project plan for a multi-sectorial improvement of the logistical infrastructure is that the government is the sole entity entrusted with planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating public land resources and surface infrastructural reserves and developments. Additionally, the executive state organ in conjunction with its affiliate local authorities, can lease, rent, contract or tender private corporations to construct, run, or assess the public utilities on its behalf (Porter, & Rivkin, 2012, p. 65).
Practical solutions
For the possible achievement of proactive solutions in the transport, communication and other critical infrastructural developments in the US, the Federal Government must introduce relevant and effective reforms. These include guideline initiation, dispensation, developmental design, functioning, constant assessment and the sustainable innovations and supervision of the critical infrastructure.
Notably, the US has hundreds of corporations that oversee the logistics in infrastructural development with no distinct or supreme authority responsible for this endeavor (Edwards, & Snyder, 2009, p. 21). Therefore, a central coordinating agency should be formed to reduce the financial and time resources, duplication of roles, possible contradictions, and harmonization of regulation, ideologies and decision making in the sector. Cost effectiveness can also be realized in the required repairs, routine maintenance, application and integration of cheap renewable technology and innovations through seamless consultations within and across the responsible agencies (Edwards, & Snyder, 2009, p. 24).
Besides, the government should limit direct involvement in the production of logistical services to allow for a free market especially in the private infrastructural investments, new innovations, and decentralization of the provision of viable practices. This move will channel more resources from the Federal budgetary allocation to help improve the infrastructural, social utility sector and to counter the overwhelming population bulge. For example, abolition of selected subsidy that discourages fair competition and incorporation of user friendly fees and incentives as well as outsourcing of cheaper alternative funding can be very effective.
Additionally, the US infrastructural departments should upgrade and introduce service delivery strategies that aims at the management of the constant congestion in the transport and communication industries. The populace should be educated on the diverse ways they could lessen overcrowding and traffic hold-ups (Okon, & Elhag, 2012, p. 76). Some approaches worth adopting are telework programs or telecommuting, express bus services and improvement of local road connectivity. Similarly, the charging of private vehicles for accessing high occupancy lanes and the collective transportation planning are also necessary. These tactics will discourage unnecessary use of personal cars and encourage city dwellers to opt for bicycles and motorcycles when going to work or school (Okon, & Elhag, 2012, p. 79).
A chart showing the nation's deteriorating infrastructure and percentage of serviceable verses unserviceable infrastructure
Serviceable infrastructure Unserviceable infrastructur...