Stressing port industry concerns over the growing volume of freight moving over America’s already congested transportation system, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jean Godwin will go before the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission on March 19 to urge Commission members to recognize the importance of efficient port access when making recommendations to Congress to address future surface transportation needs.
In her oral presentation and written remarks, Godwin will outline the freight infrastructure needs that U.S. public ports have now and will have in the future to guard against gridlock in the goods movement network. These include improved access roads to freight terminals (also known as intermodal connectors), promoting projects of regional and national significance, appointing state freight coordinators, rail investment tax credits, new project financing methods, water transportation options (to reduce the highway cargo volumes), and more navigation dredging projects to improve access to ports by today’s large, modern ships.