The Traffic Club of Philadelphia, one of the oldest transportation clubs in the United States, selected James T. McDermott, Jr., Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, as its '2007 Transportation Person of the Year' at its 99th Annual Dinner Meeting.

Upon receiving his award in front of several hundred attendees at the January 23 dinner at the Marriott Hotel at the Philadelphia International Airport, Mr. McDermott said, 'It is truly an honor to be recognized by the many, many transportation professionals that make up the Traffic Club of Philadelphia, and I will always cherish this award. It is also gratifying to know that all of you will stand with me as we address the challenges our industry now faces.'

Mr. McDermott then went on to address his two major concerns for the future: the completion of the Delaware River Channel Deepening Project and the importance of continually reminding our governmental and civic leaders on the vital role of maritime industrial activity along the Delaware River when alternative, 'more glamorous' uses of waterfront property often get all the attention.

'Make no mistake, we need 45 feet of water if we're to remain a viable port well into the future,' said Mr. McDermott, who congratulated Governor Rendell and other elected officials for aggressively fighting for the deepening project. 'The ships are getting bigger, and other ports are doing what they need to do to accommodate them. We have to follow suit. We must all work together, public and private entities alike, Pennsylvania and New Jersey businesses alike, to finally bring this absolutely necessary project to fruition. Our future depends on it.'

Speaking about his other concern, Mr. McDermott said, 'Casinos and other recreational uses of valuable waterfront lands concerns me greatly, too. Such uses don't fulfill the potential of our great waterfront, and could seriously impact our ongoing maritime operations. In particular, I'm worried about the major congestion that will result from thousands of cars and busses visiting gaming parlors and other entertainment venues on the waterfront. One of the major selling points of this port is how efficiently trucks and trains move in and out of our facilities, speeding cargo to its final destination. I don't want to lose that advantage. Like the channel deepening initiative, this is another area where we must all work together, reminding our elected officials and civic planners about the priorities of the Delaware River waterfront. We all know what's desirable and what's not desirable for our valuable waterfront lands.'

Outgoing Traffic Club of Philadelphia President Joseph A. Lo Castro, Director of Sales and Business Development for RoadLink USA, and 2007 President-Elect Marylou Robinson, Senior Account Executive at CSX Intermodal, both expressed their satisfaction at Mr. McDermott's selection as 2007 Transportation Person of the Year, as did PRPA Director of Strategic Planning and Traffic Club Board Member Nicholas Walsh, who officially introduced Mr. McDermott that evening.

James. T. McDermott, Jr. was appointed Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority by the PRPA Board of Directors on May 13, 1994. Prior to that, upon joining the agency in 1991, Mr. McDermott served as the Authority's Chief Counsel. During his tenure, Mr. McDermott has presided over an expansion of the Port of Philadelphia's physical infrastructure and cargo base. He has developed and implemented a capital program that, to date, has invested over $75 million for the expansion and enhancement of the Port of Philadelphia's facilities. In addition, he has directed an extensive international marketing program, which has made the Port of Philadelphia the gateway port in North America for a wide variety of cargoes. As Executive Director of Pennsylvania's international seaport, Mr. McDermott has represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the lo