The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans to spend almost $65 million to upgrade three of the major roads truckers use to transport cargo to and from the agency's three New Jersey container terminals.
The program, which the authority's board of commissioners approved at a meeting Tuesday, includes the widening of McLester Street in the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal, and the widening and realignment of Port Street and Brewster Road. The board authorized spending $30 million on the McLester Street program and $34.5 million on the Port Street and Brewster Road program.
The road upgrades, which are designed to ease traffic congestion, increase cargo capacity and enhance safety, will be financed by a new infrastructure fee on all cargo that the board approved Tuesday.
The new fee, which replaces the fee on containers handled by ExpressRail, is expected to raise about $26 million annually compared with $20.5 million from the to-be-discontinued ExpressRail fee.
The new fee will average less than $9 per 40-foot container and will amount to $1.11 per automobile and 13 cents per metric ton on non-containerized cargo, said Rick Larrabee, the port authority's director of port commerce.
The port authority board voted Tuesday to approve the fee and eliminate its $57.50 per-lift assessment on containers handled at the ports' ExpressRail ramps. The change is expected to take effect about Feb. 1.
The road upgrades will complement an ongoing project to realign a sharp curve on North Avenue East and McLester Street at the Elizabeth Marine Terminal, which is scheduled for completion in December 2011.
The McLester Street project, scheduled to be completed in January 2014, includes the construction of a third traffic lane in both directions, the consolidation of driveways, a center barrier and traffic signals to enhance safety, and jug-handles to control U-turn and left-turn movements. The work will complement gate relocation and expansion projects currently being undertaken by a tenant, APM Terminals.
The Port Street/Brewster Street project, scheduled to be completed in September 2013, includes the realignment and widening of Port Street, the realignment of the north entrance/exit to Newark Liberty International Airport and the installation of a retaining wall along Brewster Road to accommodate the widening of Port Street. In addition, the project includes the relocation of traffic signals, signs, lighting, and the installation of a new bus stop convenient to Port Street and Brewster Road.Upgrades to ease congestion, increase capacity, enhance safety
"The more efficient we can make cargo movements in and out of our ports, the better it is for our customers whose businesses depend on speed and reliability," said Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward. "These major investments will help relieve traffic congestion and increase the safety with some of our busiest cargo moving safely and efficiently through our port."
The program, which the authority's board of commissioners approved at a meeting Tuesday, includes the widening of McLester Street in the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal, and the widening and realignment of Port Street and Brewster Road. The board authorized spending $30 million on the McLester Street program and $34.5 million on the Port Street and Brewster Road program.
The road upgrades, which are designed to ease traffic congestion, increase cargo capacity and enhance safety, will be financed by a new infrastructure fee on all cargo that the board approved Tuesday.
The new fee, which replaces the fee on containers handled by ExpressRail, is expected to raise about $26 million annually compared with $20.5 million from the to-be-discontinued ExpressRail fee.
The new fee will average less than $9 per 40-foot container and will amount to $1.11 per automobile and 13 cents per metric ton on non-containerized cargo, said Rick Larrabee, the port authority's director of port commerce.
The port authority board voted Tuesday to approve the fee and eliminate its $57.50 per-lift assessment on containers handled at the ports' ExpressRail ramps. The change is expected to take effect about Feb. 1.
The road upgrades will complement an ongoing project to realign a sharp curve on North Avenue East and McLester Street at the Elizabeth Marine Terminal, which is scheduled for completion in December 2011.
The McLester Street project, scheduled to be completed in January 2014, includes the construction of a third traffic lane in both directions, the consolidation of driveways, a center barrier and traffic signals to enhance safety, and jug-handles to control U-turn and left-turn movements. The work will complement gate relocation and expansion projects currently being undertaken by a tenant, APM Terminals.
The Port Street/Brewster Street project, scheduled to be completed in September 2013, includes the realignment and widening of Port Street, the realignment of the north entrance/exit to Newark Liberty International Airport and the installation of a retaining wall along Brewster Road to accommodate the widening of Port Street. In addition, the project includes the relocation of traffic signals, signs, lighting, and the installation of a new bus stop convenient to Port Street and Brewster Road.Upgrades to ease congestion, increase capacity, enhance safety
"The more efficient we can make cargo movements in and out of our ports, the better it is for our customers whose businesses depend on speed and reliability," said Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward. "These major investments will help relieve traffic congestion and increase the safety with some of our busiest cargo moving safely and efficiently through our port."