b'20American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comPANYNJ projects tackle sustainabilityIts official: The post-COVID era Port Authority of New York New Jersey (PANYNJ) road reconfiguration, park- at the Port of NY/NJ has arriveding expansion expected to reduce emissions. Retailers have returned to regular restocking pat-ternscargo volumes are growing.By Peter Buxbaum, AJOTUndernormalcircumstances,roadandrampBoth projects are also part of the Port Author- By Peter Buxbaum, AJOTupgrades at a maritime port might not receive a greatitys sustainability efforts, which include a varietyIt can now be said that theinventories accumulated during deal of attention. The same goes for the expansionof other measures, such as installing solar panelsPortofNewYorkandNewthe pandemic.of a truck parking lot at an airport. But in the caseatNewarkLibertyInternational Airport,acquir- Jerseyhasenteredapost- Lastyearallowedevery-of the Port Authority of New York and New Jerseying electric cargo handling equipment at the port,COVIDperiod.Theportfin- body, terminal operators, truck-(PANYNJ), these improvements are part of a planand creating incentives for ocean vessels to reduceished2023withvolumetotalsing companies, and others, the toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050.emissions while approaching the port.thatexceeded2019spre- opportunity to continue to build LastNovember,thePortAuthoritybeganCOVID numbers by 4.4%, without capacity and build out rela-construction on the $220 million Port Street Cor- s coPe of ThePAnynj e fforTs the ports yearly total coming intionships, Rooney added. The ridor Improvement project to redesign and rebuildThe Port Authoritys initial emissions reduc- at 7.8 million TEU. confidencethatourcustomers Port Newarks northern entrance, at an interchangetion efforts focused on reducing direct Scopes 1Theseaportcontinuedascollectively have in the business which links to the New Jersey Turnpike and Inter- and2emissions,whichincludesourcessuchasthe second busiest in the nationand service we provide here is state 78. The roadway configuration will providePort Authority vehicles, buildings, and equipmentfor loaded imports and exports,very, very positive.truckers with a wider turning radius, which willand electricity purchased for Port Authority opera- a mark it first achieved in 2022,As the bloated warehouses promotesafetybutitwillalsosavetimeandtions. In 2021, the Port Authority expanded thosewhenitsurpassedthePortofreducetheirinventories,retail-reduce carbon emissions. goals to include Scope 3 emissionsthose depen- Long Beach. ersarereturningtoaregular Also in November, PANYNJ approved a leasedent on tenants, customers, and employees. Shippers,terminalopera- restockingrhythm,according supplement with the operator of a truck parkingThe Port Newark ramp serves around 1,400tors,andlogisticsprovidersto Rooney. Cargo volumes have facility at John F. Kennedy International Airporttrucks per peak hour, as well as other vehicles. Thenowhavesomebreathingcontinued to grow in 2024. that will triple the number of the facilitys parkinginterchanges current configuration includes chal- room, said Port Director Beth- Theporthandled667,346 spaces. Under the revised lease, the JFK Airportlenging hairpin turns. The enhancements will saveann Rooney, to prepare for theTEUs in January, outpacing Jan-Plaza will invest at least $14 million to demolish700,000 hours of travel time for port vehicles in thefuturepreviewedduringtheuary 2019 by 7.2% and January a building and make way for a larger truck parkingfirst year, which is expected to reduce annual fuelpandemic,whencargogrowth2023by3.4%.January2024s facilityand access to more electric vehicle charg- consumption by 70,000 gallons and annual carbonacceleratedbeyondexpecta- volumewasalso5.3%above ing stations at the parking lot.emissions by 750 tons. tions. Were exactly where allDecember 2023 figures.In both cases, these developments could offerThe Port Newark project received a $44 millionoftheforecastsindicatedthatIn February, the port posted incremental improvements to the flow of goods ingrant from the U.S. Department of Transportationswe were going to be, Rooneyvolumegainsacrossimports, and around their respective facilitieswhich is notInfrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) pro- told a State of the Port gather- exports,andautos,makingit trivial. And both projects, it is also worth noting,gram in July 2021 and is scheduled to be completedinginJerseyCityearlierthisthesecond-busiestFebruaryin come to accommodate the higher volumes of cargoin2028.Theinvestment,saidPollyTrottenberg,year. Weve had a look at whatitshistory.Februarysvolume that the seaport and airport have been handling.Deputy Secretary in the U.S. Department of Trans- our future is like, and we haveof632,455TEUsrepresented (See accompanying story.)portation, will strengthen the busiest container portsix or seven years to prepare toa10.7%increasecomparedto Over the past few years, weve seen firsthandon the East Coast and will make the ports road- handle that volume again. PortFebruary 2023, as imports rose the importance of keeping every link in our supplyway network safer, more efficient, and improve airvolumes took a hit in the earlyby15.2%yearoveryearand chain robust and ready, said Port Authority Chair- quality and congestion. part of 2023 as retailers emptiedexports increased by 3%. man Kevin OToole.(TACKLEcontinued on page 38) warehousesoverstockedwith(ERAcontinued on page 38)SERVING THE PORTS OFNY/NJ, BALTIMORE, & PHILADELPHIA C O M M I T T E D T OA N E L E V A T E D L E V E LO F S U S T A I N A B L I T YDRAYAGETRANSLOADING COMPETITIVE RATES PORT OF NY/NJ LOCATIONZERO EMISSIONS TRUCKSLOW EMISSIONS MODERN FLEETPROVIDING INNOVATIVE & SUPERIOR SERVICE 2050 SINCE [email protected](973) 465-5310Best Transportation LLC, 263 Distribution Street, Port Newark,NJ'