The enhancement of the rail facility will be a significant offering to customers of the expanded Global facility, scheduled to open in 2014. The terminal will feature new container handling technology that will achieve higher efficiency while improving safety and security for the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), AFL-CIO workforce. The technologically advanced marine terminal will also improve the competitiveness of the Port of New York and New Jersey with its ability to handle the largest container vessels at greater throughput density per acre.
The intermodal facility when completed will allow an additional 250,000 containers annually to be moved to and from ocean-going vessels and double-stack freight trains traveling longer distances between the port and the heartland. The South Hudson Intermodal Facility will enhance the Port of New York & New Jersey's three existing rail facilities while promoting future growth of intermodal cargo through the City of Bayonne while reducing the amount of over the road trucks congesting both the Hudson County and regional roadway network.
Reduced use of trucks will also reduce pollution to communities where people live and work. TIGER funds will be used to procure two double-cantilever rail mounted gantry cranes, which will load and unload double-stack rail cars in the 32-car rail car working intermodal yard.
"The DOT TIGER funds places us a giant step closer to the total Global expansion, the total development of Port Jersey peninsula and a superb example of how public and private funding can work together to help such projects evolve," said James Devine, President and CEO, Global Container Terminals USA. "It is also a testament to the long-term commitment from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to protect the port's continuing role as a leading U.S. gateway for global commerce," he added.
The Port Authority acquired the land for the project adjoining Global's existing facility in 2007, ensuring that remaining waterfront property would be used for waterfront business. The Global project and the adjacent rail yard will create significant employment opportunity through both the construction phase and operation of the facility. Richard Larrabee, director of port commerce for the PANYNJ, noted the significant investment made by the bi-state agency in the facility, including dredging, real estate purchase, equipment and involvement in the total development. "It will bring this area into the 21st century," he said.
Integration with the rail facilities creates alternatives and opportunities for containerized goods to access the expanding Norfolk Southern Heartland Corridor and the CSX National Gateway rail lines. Creation of the SHIF allows direct transfer of rail export and import containers to ocean going vessels without truck drayage through the regions roadways. The project has positive environmental benefits by reducing diesel emissions by reduced truck drayage and implementation of electric stacking cranes. The project stimulates employment in the local and regional area when unemployment is higher than the national average.
Secretary LaHood made reference to the number of jobs that will be brought to the areas with longshoremen, construction workers, rail yard personnel "and the hundreds of support employees that will come with the anticipated growth in cargo volume." Mr. LaHood and Senator Menendez spoke also about moving containers off the highways and onto the rails. "The highways
