8/12/2010- Sires Announces Department of Transportation's Designation of America's Marine Highway Corridors, Programs, and Initiatives

For Immediate Release                                                           Contact: Erica Daughtrey

August 12, 2010                                                                     201-222-2828

Washington, D.C.-- Today, Congressman Sires announced the U.S. Department of Transportation’s selection of eighteen marine highway corridors, eight initial projects, and six initiatives which will be eligible for federal funding under the “America’s Marine Highway Program.”

“I applaud the corridors, projects, and initiatives that were selected under this program, and am proud that several designations will benefit New Jersey and the 13th Congressional District” said Congressman Sires. “Using coastal routes and rivers to move goods will reduce congestion, improve the environment, and create jobs.”

Marine Highway Projects that were designated and will affect New Jersey’s 13th Congressional District include the Trans-Hudson Rail Service and Gulf Atlantic Marine Highway Project.  The Trans-Hudson Rail Service project was submitted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and will expand the quality and capacity of cross-harbor rail float services between the Greenville Rail Terminal in Jersey City, NJ and Brooklyn, NY.  This project will reduce congestion and improve the region’s environment by reducing emissions.  The Gulf Atlantic Marine Highway Project anticipates using the PANYNJ as an East Coast hub port, and the project was endorsed by PANYNJ.  This project will establish a short sea service to move export, import, and domestic freight containers and will also entail construction of 10 new green coastal container ships that will operate on domestically produced biodiesel fuel.

Additionally, the New Jersey Marine Highway Initiative submitted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation will assess the feasibility and opportunities to develop a network of Marine Highway services both within New Jersey and between New Jersey and ports in New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

“As the Representative of a district that includes the largest port on the East Coast, the efficient movement of goods is critical to a prosperous community,” said Sires. “The Marine Highway Program will provide more options for our transportation system and encourage the use of all modes of transportation.”

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