DESCRIPTION (PROJECT AREA AND PURPOSE): The Port of New York and New Jersey is the premier gateway to the world. It is a conduit of global commerce and a major generator of jobs and economic activity. The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port on the East Coast of North America, the third largest in the nation, and one of the most productive high-volume port operations globally. Encompassing the existing 50 ft navigation channel and surrounding areas, the harbor channel system includes various terminals and associated channels. The affected environment or area of potential effect associated with the Port is defined as the catchment area that lies within 260 miles of Newark Bay, which is the distance that marks the length of land transportation at which the lower cost per ton mile cost but extra mode shift handling cost of rail transportation exactly counterbalances the higher per ton mile cost but lesser handling cost of truck transportation of a shipping container. This area encompasses all or part of 17 states. In 2015, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey facilitated the movement of approximately 6.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), an increase of over 10 percent from 2014. Getting goods into the hands of the consumers through an efficient and reliable transportation network is the cornerstone of the port’s competitive edge with global markets. The port has premier access to rail, road, and inland waterway routes to transport goods to 23 million local consumers and up to 100 million customers within 36 hours at markets all over the U.S. and Canada. The Port of New York and New Jersey’s six container terminals receive vessels from all of the world’s major ocean carriers serving nearly every region of the world. Of the services that call on the Port of New York and New Jersey, 74 percent are first calls. Prior to the initiation of the Harbor Deepening Program, channels to the Harbor were inadequate to provide access to the large post-Panamax ships, which have drafts of 48 feet or more. A feasibility study, completed in June 2022, was conducted to determine the possibility of improving navigation within the constructed 50 ft New York and New Jersey Harbor.
STUDY AUTHORIZATION: The study authority for the Port of New York-New Jersey Harbor Navigation Study is §435 of the Water Resources Development Act (hereinafter, WRDA) of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-303). Section 101(a)(2), Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-541).
PROJECT STATUS: The New York and New Jersey Harbor Deepening Channel Improvements (NYNJHDCI) project is funded by the Omnibus Appropriations Bill which was signed into law by President Biden in December 2022. The construction of the project is currently estimated at $6.3B. USACE and PANYNJ will enter into a design agreement which will mark the start of the PED phase for the first constructible element of the project.
PROJECT COST: Total Construction Cost Estimate: $6.3B, cost shared with PANYNJ.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS:
NY-07 (Velazquez), NY-10 (Goldman), NY-11 (Malliotakis)
NJ-06 (Pallone), NJ-08 (Menendez), NJ-11 (Sherrill)
CONTACT:
Mr. Seth Greenwald
Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New York District
26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090
E-mail: seth.b.greenwald@usace.army.mil