Port Authority Seeks Planning Consultant for Port Master Plan

Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal is a major component of the Port of New York and New Jersey. (Ken Lund photo/Flickr.com via Creative Commons License.)

NEW YORK, NY AND NEWARK, NJ—The Port Authority is advertising for a planning consultant to help it conduct a comprehensive review of the agency’s more than 3,000 acres of cargo facilities as part of a master plan for future growth that the quasi-governmental body hopes will improve operations, enhance revenue, and create jobs. “Our port has been a national trendsetter in the maritime industry and continues to be the leading East Coast gateway for international shippers,” says port commerce director Molly Campbell. “To continue this positive trend, we must take a holistic look at the entire port operation and develop an optimum plan that will allow us to efficiently grow the business for decades to come following a record 10.4 percent increase in cargo volumes in 2015.” The Port Authority did not respond to a request for additional comment by GlobeSt.com’s deadline. As previously reported by GlobeSt.com, New Jersey business leaders have expressed concerns about the adequacy of the highway infrastructure serving the port. In December, New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Bracken said “the whole infrastructure of highways and bridges around there is in need of repair. I am sure there are many bridges in the port area that trucks go over, carrying heavy cargo, that are in bad shape.” In a “Request for Proposal” issued today, the Port Authority says it is seeking a planning consultant to develop a long-range Maritime Master Plan to guide future growth and development of the port for the next 25 to 30 years. The review will look at each of the port’s six container terminals as well as its auto, bulk, cruise and adjacent real estate holdings along with support services and operations. The review is expected to take up to 18 months to complete. In developing the master plan, the consultant will use data and information from previous studies, including the 2014-2015 Land Use Plan and the 2015 Port Demand and Capacity Study. Once completed, it will provide the framework to maximize land use, ensure an appropriate diversity of uses, increase operational efficiency and provide for enhanced revenue opportunities. Aside from the Master Plan initiative, the Port Authority already has taken steps to improve operational performance and efficiency at the port through the formation of the Port Performance Task Force in December 2013. The task force developed a series of 23 recommendations designed to reduce truck congestion and air emissions in the Port of New York and New Jersey, improve customer service for truckers and other port stakeholders, and enhance the flow of goods to and from the marketplace. A group of port stakeholders – the Council on Port Performance – was formed and is now actively working on planning and implementing the recommendations. One of the consultant’s primary tasks will be to develop an outreach plan with Port Authority staff to work with and solicit ideas and opinions from a variety of internal and external port stakeholders. These include federal, state and local government agencies, neighboring communities, tenants, industry representatives, elected officials, labor organizations and the public. The review also will explore industry trends and developments that could impact the port, and analyze the ability of the existing complex to effectively and efficiently meet future demand while generating increased revenues for the agency and stakeholders and increased economic activity for the region in a sustainable manner. The selected consultant will be asked to conduct a market analysis and identify emerging technologies and potential changes in operating practices that could improve efficiency. The review also will look at port capacity, the current tenant mix and whether the current structure will allow for future demand to be effectively met. It also will look at other unique strategies such as off-port support facilities, inland ports, expansion of the free-trade zone and short sea shipping.