On the day applications were due for a federal infrastructure grant program, supporters of a new Jacksonville Port Authority intermodal container transfer facility gathered at the Dames Point Marine Terminal to discuss the opportunities the facility could generate.
The Port Authority has applied for $25 million through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant program for a $45 million project that would construct a near-dock ICTF.
It would increase the efficiency of loading and unloading cargo ships and decrease the amount of traffic on the roads that is currently transporting containerized cargo to a railroad yard in West Jacksonville.
“Adding an ICTF to JaxPort’s already superior highway and rail connections will offer even more cost-effective solutions for shippers in an industry demanding efficiency and speed,” said Paul Anderson, Jacksonville Port Authority CEO.
“By taking this opportunity to attract federal investment in North Florida, we can continue to expand our competitiveness and our economic significance to the region, state and nation,” he said.
Applications for the third round of TIGER grants were due Monday. The port hopes for a funding decision by January.
The port has applied for TIGER funding previously and has not been successful in the competitive application process, but it has been diligent in asking U.S. Department of Transportation senior officials about how it could improve its application.
“We have met with many of the senior staff of the U.S. Department of Transportation and they have defined to us what their ‘sweet spots’ were for these TIGER grants,” said Anderson.
He said the port has better partnerships than it had during its last application for TIGER funds. It also has the support of the state, which Anderson said will contribute $20 million through Florida Department of Transportation funds to the project.
One of those partnerships is with CSX, which has contributed the engineering for the project as well as consulting with the Port Authority as it developed its application for the TIGER grant.
CSX looks forward to the facility’s success.
“My view is that we are here in another couple of years to get another TIGER grant to expand the facility,” said Clarence Gooden, CSX executive vice president of sales and marketing and chief commercial officer.
Mayor Alvin Brown attended the meeting to support the project and said he appreciated Anderson’s efforts.
“He has been literally burning up the phones, the highways, the planes and he is so committed to (the port),” said Brown.
“This is the best TIGER grant, second to none, that shows real public-private partnership and, as mayor, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we are the model around the country,” Brown said.
Anderson recognized the mayor’s efforts working with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to make ports in America one of its top three issues.
One of the top issues for Florida Rep. Lake Ray is encouraging more business at the port and he cited a statistic from a recent Florida Chamber of Commerce logistics study that showed there are untapped markets.
“The report said 50 percent of goods we consume that come through a port come from a port outside of our state,” said Ray. “We need to capture those dollars.”
The Florida Chamber Trade and Logistics Study also stated more statistics.
“In 2009, Florida seaports handled 55 percent of the containerized waterborne imports ultimately consumed in Florida — 38 percent of containerized cargo originating in Asia, and 70 percent of cargo originating in other continents,” it said.
“This represents a loss of 1.4 million tons of Asian cargo and 0.9 million tons of non-Asian cargo to other states in that year. Of the Asian imported cargo moving through seaports and then directly to market in Florida, 38 percent entered the United States through a Florida seaport, 36 percent through Los Angeles/Long Beach, 13 percent through Savannah, and 4 percent through New York/ New Jersey.”
Anderson wants to tap that market.
“This facility will help us to market to shipping companies in Asia. We are trying to capture cargo coming over from Asia that is headed to Orlando through Savannah,” he said.
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