Menendez, Booker, Sires, Payne Announce $14.8M TIGER Grant for Port Newark

Press Release

U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-NJ) and Congressmen Albio Sires (NJ-08) and Donald Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) today announced a $14,800,000 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to improve and expand facilities at Port Newark, create hundreds of jobs and enhance economic opportunities throughout the region.

"This significant federal investment ensures Port Newark's viability in this highly-competitive global economy," said Sen. Menendez. "The expansion of Port Newark--a vital economic engine for the entire region--equips it to handle the expected increased demand and larger vessels that will soon traverse a wider and deeper Panama Canal and up the Atlantic Coast. Funding infrastructure improvements like this is the most efficient way to grow jobs and stimulate the local economy."

"When Port Newark is strong, New Jersey's economy is strong. If we want to move more goods, improve our economic competitiveness as a state, and grow more jobs, we must make necessary investments to expand New Jersey's port infrastructure, said Sen. Booker. "I will continue to advocate for more funding which will allow New Jersey to make essential investments to the Port Newark Terminal while providing more New Jerseyans with high-paying jobs."

"I am pleased that Essex County's TIGER 2014 application for the Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) Access Improvements and Expansion Project has been granted by the Department of Transportation," said Rep. Sires. "This grant will accelerate the critically-needed replacement of outdated infrastructure and related security and utilities assets that, if left unimproved, threaten freight transportation network efficiency, impede the mobility of goods, and suppress economic growth in New Jersey. This project will also significantly reduce congestion that results in harmful truck idling emissions which jeopardize the health of Essex county residents."

"The 10th District of New Jersey will benefit greatly from this nearly $15 million investment into Port Newark," said Rep. Payne, Jr. "Not only will it create hundreds of jobs at the port, but it will increase commerce into New Jersey and keep costs of consumer goods low across the state. In an expanding worldwide economy, it is critical that we continue to invest in our infrastructure, and this tremendous funding will ensure that New Jersey continues to be a major economic competitor on a global scale."

The Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) in Essex County plans to use this federal funding to demolish outdated warehouses and gate facilities, and construct new gate facilities and a new paved container storage area. It's part of an overall $53.9 million project, largely funded through private investment, to double the port's gate capacity, increase container yard capacity by 23%, improve overall service levels, and cut truck transaction times by as much as half.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. added: "We are pleased that the federal government will be investing $14 million in TIGER grant funding to expand the gate and increasing the lanes at the Port Newark Container Terminal facilities. The upgrades will have a tremendous impact in promoting economic growth by generating construction jobs and new permanent positions at the Port. The creation of additional lanes will also help the environment, as decreasing idling time for tractor trailers means a reduction of harmful vehicle emissions. We thank our federal legislators, Senators Menendez and Booker and Congressmen Payne and Sires, for supporting this significant project and understanding the many positive effects it will have on the City of Newark, Essex County and the surrounding region."

The project is expected to generate 300, good-paying, full time jobs with an average annual salary of $84,000, create 150 construction jobs and reduce shipping costs through increased port productivity, keeping the costs for goods down across the region.

"On behalf of everyone at Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT), I want to thank The Honorable Anthony Foxx, US Secretary of Transportation; Senators Menendez and Booker; Congressmen Payne and Sires, Governor Christie; Senator Lesniak; Assemblyman Rumana; Essex County Executive DiVincenzo, and their staffs for their confidence and support of our Tiger VI 2014 Grant Application," said PNCT President Jim Pelliccio. "Port Newark Container Terminal's access improvement and expansion project is one of several planned developments taking place at Port Newark. PNCT continues to invest in expansion and operating efficiencies in the Port of New Jersey and New York. This TIGER Grant will accelerate and enhance job growth, environmental sustainability, and quality of life for the surrounding communities as we further trade growth in the region and feed this vital economic engine."

Operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), Port Newark is the third largest container port in the United States, the largest on the East Coast and 19th largest port in the world. Handling approximately 12% of the nation's cargo volume, economic impact studies point to Port Newark as the source of 461,350 direct and indirect jobs; $46.3 billion in personal and corporate income; and $6 billion in tax revenue.

The USDOT TIGER Discretionary Grant program provides federal funding for shovel-ready infrastructure improvement projects aimed at achieving critical national objectives. Established by Congress in 2009 to help the nation recover from the Great Recession, today's announcement is part of the sixth round of TIGER grants, which collectively produced $4.1 billion in investment for rail, roads, transit, pedestrian and bicycle, and port projects.