46 U.S.C. § 55604: Research on marine highway transportation

the economic effects of marine highway transportation on the United States economy; the effects of marine highway transportation, including with respect to the provision of additional transportation options, on rural areas; the environmental and transportation benefits to be derived from marine highway transportation alternatives for other forms of transportation; technology, vessel design, and other improvements that would reduce emissions, increase fuel economy, and lower costs of marine highway transportation and increase the efficiency of intermodal transfers; and solutions to impediments to marine highway transportation projects designated under section 55601.