$44M in Fed Funding to Improve Travel Access to Port Newark & Elizabeth

On Jul 26, 2021

The US Department of Transportation has announced $44 million in funding to improve and modernize the northern access roadway network connecting to Port Newark and Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal (EPAMT). The Port Street Corridor Improvement (PSCI) Project is expected to create safer entranceways to the port complex, reduce congestion, and create an additional 260 direct jobs, $25 million in direct wages and $171 million in regional economic activity.

“This project is going to alleviate traffic, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality for surrounding communities, and help us move more goods in and out of the port complex more efficiently,” said US Senator Bob Menendez. “This project is good for the port, good for the planet, and good for the people. It doesn’t get better than that.”

According to US Senator Cory Booker, “As the Port of New York and New Jersey continues to thrive as an economic engine for our region and our country, we must ensure that federal resources are dedicated to supporting that growth and improving the quality of life for nearby residents and communities. This grant award demonstrates that when we choose to invest in improving our nation’s infrastructure, we invest in our workforce, in our economy, and in our country’s competitiveness.”

PANYNJ will use this funding to make significant upgrades along Port Street, the main northern roadway access point for Port Newark and EPAMT. The project also includes improvements to the Corbin Street ramp, the main point of access to Port Street, which sees approximately 3,600 vehicles an hour, 40% of which are trucks, during peak times. Once complete, it’s estimated that the project would eliminate over 700,000 hours of travel times for cars and trucks accessing the port complex—significantly improving the flow of goods in and out and decreasing harmful air pollution—and accidents would be reduced by 37%.

“This important national investment in our roadway infrastructure has a broad impact far beyond the port, as millions of consumers and thousands of livelihoods depend on the safety and efficiency of its operations,” said PANYNJ Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Shoring up the roads that lead to and from Port Newark ensures that critical supplies, goods and commerce can keep moving throughout the region.”

“This INFRA grant advances the Port Authority’s commitment to modernizing legacy infrastructure while making our facilities safer and more efficient as we keep the region moving,” said PANYNJ Executive Director Rick Cotton. “We thank the Biden administration’s recognition of our seaport’s critical role in the national and regional supply chain with an investment in our port roadway infrastructure that will yield safer and more efficient access to Port Newark and Newark Airport.”

Making enhancements to the port’s roadways will boost efficiency and reliability for local, regional and national importers, exporters, trucking firms and distribution centers. Additionally, the PSCI project will ultimately lower fuel consumption, reduce pollution and improve air quality, health and safety for residents in neighboring communities.

“As our nation, our state, our county, and our city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that plagued us for the last 17 months, investments like this one will help our city’s economic vitality and recovery efforts,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

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