TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICA: ROAD, RAIL, AND MARITIME NETWORKS

Аннотация

North America's transport geography is defined by a vast, integrated network of highways, railways, and maritime routes that form the backbone of the continent's economic connectivity. This article explores the structure, spatial distribution, and functional interrelationships of these transport systems across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The study highlights the strategic importance of major corridors, trade flows under the USMCA agreement, and the role of ports and inland hubs in continental logistics. It also examines contemporary challenges such as infrastructure aging,congestion, andclimatevulnerability. Keywords: Transport geography, North America, highway systems, rail freight, seaports, intermodal logistics, USMCA, NAFTA corridor Transport networks are vital to the economic integration and spatial development of the North American continent. Comprising the United States, Canada, and Mexico, North America hostsone oftheworld's most sophisticated and extensivetransport infrastructures. Historically shaped by westward expansion, industrialization, and trade liberalization (notably NAFTA and now USMCA), the continent’s road, rail, and maritime networks have evolved into interconnected corridors supporting billions of dollars in goods movement annually. This paper examines the geographic structure and dynamics of the three main transport modes—automobile (highways), railway, and maritime shipping—in the North American context. It also discusses recent shifts driven by economic globalization, digitalization, and environmental pressures. Thisstudyemploys amulti-scalar approach that includes: GIS mapping andspatialanalysisof transport corridors and logistics hubs; Review of government transport data from U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Transport Canada, and Mexico’s SecretaríadeComunicaciones yTransportes; Comparative case studies of key systems: the Interstate Highway System, Class I freight railroads, and majorseaports such as Los Angeles, Houston, andVancouver; Literature review on regional transport planning and trade logistics under the USMCA framework. page2345 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue06,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai Road Transport System (Highways)  The United States Interstate Highway System, initiated in the 1950s, spans over 78,000 km,linking majormetropolitan areas, border crossings, andindustrial centers.  Canada's Trans-Canada Highway is the world’s second-longest national highway system, stretching over7,800km from British Columbiato Newfoundland.  Mexico’s Federal Highway Network, including toll-based "autopistas," connects northern maquiladora zones tocentral markets and ports. Key Road Corridors:  I-35 Corridor: From Laredo (Mexico–US border) to Minnesota, crucial for USMCA trade.  Pan-American Highway: Links Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, extending into Central America. RailTransport System  North America’s rail network is freight-dominated. The U.S. alone operates over 225,000 kmof rail lines.  Class I Railroads (e.g., Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Ferromex)managecontinental-scale operations.  Intermodal rail terminals (e.g., Chicago, Kansas City, Toronto, Monterrey) serve as vitallinks between seaports and inland destinations. NotableDevelopments:  The 2023 CPKC merger (Canadian Pacific + Kansas City Southern) established the first rail network linking Canada, theU.S., andMexico undera single operator. MaritimeTransport System  Majorseaports: U.S.: Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Houston o Canada: Vancouver, Montreal, PrinceRupert o Mexico:Manzanillo,Veracruz, Lázaro Cárdenas o  Theseports handle containerized and bulk cargo, forming gateways for trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantictrade.  Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway enables inland navigation between the Atlantic Ocean andcentral North America. North America's transport geography reflects both natural constraints (e.g., mountains, coasts, rivers) and economic imperatives (e.g., trade, urbanization). The integrated tri-national network under USMCAhas allowed: page2346 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue06,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai  Efficient supply chain integration, especially in automotive, electronics, and agriculture sectors;  Growth ofinland logistics hubs likeChicago, Dallas, and Guadalajara;  Expansion ofmultimodalfreightsystems using rail-truck-port connectivity. Challenges:  Infrastructure aging: Many roads and bridges require majorrehabilitation;  Congestion: Urban bottlenecks and port delays impact delivery times;  Environmental vulnerability: Hurricanes, wildfires, and heatwaves affect transport continuity;  Carbon emissions: Transport is a major GHG contributor