Transportation Requirements for High Technology Industrial Development

Abstract

The belief that high technology industries are footloose has led many regional growth strategists and planners to ignore transportation considerations in high tech development. This paper shows that this development has significant transportation implications that are different from those of traditional manufacturing. These requirements are related to an explanatory framework consisting of three developmental stages in high tech industrial activities. High tech professionals are frequent air travelers, thus requiring convenient access to good air service, which may be problematic for smaller nonhub areas. Particular concerns for urban transportation arise because of the potentially rapid rate of high tech development in a given area and its sprawling low‐rise development in suburban and exurban settings. Finally, trends in high tech manufacturing and the nature of many high tech products indicate that air freight will be an important logistical component for these industries.