In terms of a national transportation policy, I wouldn't get too excited about the contribution they would make to the regional economy and the national economy. The transportation system, to be efficient, has to be big. It has to have fluidity and it has to have volume. You're in a just-in-time world where you need a constant flow, not a little bit here and a little bit there, which is just anathema to a good transportation system. There may be specific ports that have specific reasons to exist and thrive, but probably not as part of a national transportation system.
On September 22nd, 2016. See this statement in context.