The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners adopted the Port of Oakland’s Maritime Comprehensive Truck Management Plan (CTMP) at their board meeting. The CTMP addresses air quality, safety and security, business and operations, and community issues related to drayage trucking at the Oakland seaport at an estimated cost of $15.2 million for Fiscal Years 2009-12. According to Port Board President Victor Uno, "The Port of Oakland is balancing its economic responsibility as a global gateway with its social responsibility to reduce air pollution and improve the trucking system at the Oakland seaport." The CTMP is a program developed within the Port’s larger Maritime Air Quality Improvement Plan (MAQIP). The MAQIP is the Port’s master plan framework to reduce seaport diesel pollution by 85% by 2020.
According to Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin, “We are very pleased that the Port Board adopted the CTMP which is a comprehensive approach to addressing the drayage truck issues at the Oakland seaport. We can now begin implementing components of the program including a truck registry for safety and security as well as facilitating financing for cleaner trucks. All of this is going to lead to a major improvement in the overall trucking industry at the Oakland seaport while at the same time improving air quality for a healthier community.” According to the California Air Resources Board Health Risk Assessment for West Oakland, port trucks contribute about four percent of that health risk.
The Port Board also directed staff to prepare an ordinance to amend the Port’s Tariff for operating the marine terminals to include a truck ban. President Uno remarked, "The truck ban will demonstrate that the Port of Oakland is very serious about reducing diesel pollution. We are taking an aggressive position to provide maximum assurance that only cleaner trucks will serve our seaport."
The CTMP is organized in two categories: Core Components (6) and Future Component (1). Core Components are items that will be implemented in the next one to two years and are considered priorities for the Port. The Future Component is a potential item (Truck Positioning Technology) that requires further study and/or necessitates major funding that is currently not available at this time. The $15.2 million spending will cover Fiscal Years 2009 through 2012 and includes both implementation (“set-up”) and annual operation and maintenance costs.
There are extremely valuable benefits to the CTMP as explained by Port of Oakland Maritime Director James Kwon, “Through the CTMP using a Port Registry, the Port will identify drayage trucks serving our maritime area which will add another significant layer of safety and security at our seaport. The CTMP will also improve air quality and the flow of commerce through operational efficiencies and reducing traffic and congestion.” Executive Director Benjamin concluded, “The Port is committed to balancing the needs of its customers with those of its neighboring community in an effort to improve commerce, public health, and quality of life for those living and working in and around the Port.”
