The Port of New York and New Jersey poises to surpass the Port of Long Beach as nation’s second busiest port due to completion of Bayonne Bridge project and the completion of the ExpressRail Port Jersey facility, which is the last piece of the Port of New York and New Jersey’s intermodal rail network spanning facilities in Elizabeth, Newark and Staten Island.
Specifically, the ExpressRail port facility is operated by GCT Bayonne .
The investments and the enhanced capacity, flexibility and efficiency of the rail network, has attracted shippers from Midwest and Canada to NY/NJ Port to quickly supply; Thus, 75% of all container carrier services make the Port of NY/NJ their first port of call on the East Coast. In light of the efficient movement of the containers to and from markets, the largest ships have increased the number of containers unloaded and loaded here rather than at ports further down the coast.
In addition, the launch of ExpressRail Port Jersey intermodal rail facility boosts the port’s five-year strategic target on handling up to 900,000 rail lifts a year, the equivalent of 1.5 million fewer truck trips travelling through local roads, which will greatly reduce congestion and greatly enhance air quality.
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The rail project was designed to enable the port rely less on trucks to transport cargo and also expand its geographic cargo reach to inland hubs. Yet, trucks still account for moving 85% of all containers on and off port terminals today.
Moreover, the NY/NJ port is to surpass the Port of Long Beach for the first time in at least two decades.
Completion of the rail network culminates two decades and approximately $6 billion dollars of investment in the port to drive cargo growth, and in turn build on the 400,000 jobs and billions in economic activity the maritime facilities generate. In addition to the $1.7 billion Bayonne Bridge project and the $600 million in port rail network investment, the port has also deepened harbor channels to 50 feet, rebuilt wharves and berths, greatly enhanced its internal road network and installed improved security systems and infrastructure.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole added
The port has been the lifeblood of the New York-New Jersey regional economy for decades, and completion of this intermodal rail project will only help to bolster our already strong position in attracting international cargo destined for the northeast region and beyond.
According to the port’s statement, each container transmitted at ExpressRail Port Jersey eliminates 1.5 truck trips.
