Vision and Goals

Nation’sPort advocates on behalf of the diverse private interests that serve the Port of New York and New Jersey: 1) shipping lines, 2) terminals, 3) trucking, 4) railroads, 5) labor, 6) warehousing and distribution, and 7) engineering, design and construction services. We work to bring attention to the many system needs that often are overlooked by public agencies and the general public alike. In addition Nation’sPort seeks solutions to these problems through consensus-building supporting public and private actions.

Magnitude of the Port-Based Transportation and Distribution System

This Port-based transportation and delivery system is one of the primary engines of a regional economy that serves 21 million people at its core and over 100 million within a day’s journey by truck and rail, contributing nearly 200 billion annually to the economy of the region. Without the Port, many of the essential goods on which this region relies, from fuel to consumer goods to food, would be much more expensive, if not unavailable, while exports support many of our best industries.

Future Growth of the Goods Movement Industry in New York/New Jersey

Growth and changing patterns in international trade place ever-greater demands on this system in terms of accommodating volume, increasing efficiency and providing more reliable service. Successfully adapting the system in this constantly evolving environment is a challenge that must engage all the concerned parties, whether public or private.

Opportunities

To succeed in this mission, all Port constituents must work to make the most of their current assets while simultaneously investing in improved infrastructure as well as new and enhanced competitive services that will accommodate growth and generate the revenues that justify this investment.

To this end, Nation’sPort will:

• Promote a clear understanding of the services provided by the Port to the general public and direct Port users, both existing and potential.
• Increase awareness of the vital role the goods movement system plays and its value to both general and specific constituents within the region.
• Develop a broad-based coalition of stakeholders to participate in generating the changes and investments required to enhance the system and thereby, the region’s economy.

System Development

Nation’sPort will act to advocate for and facilitate system-wide dialogue and plans to ensure that the Port of New York and New Jersey is the first choice for any shipper seeking to bring goods to the East coast of North America. The first critical step to ensuring effective planning is a clear statement of the problems that must be addressed. The foundation for this effort will be a detailed inventory of the system’s components and how they function. Analyzing and effectively recommending action are the keys to achieving the system’s potential. Nation’sPort will work with all stakeholders to:

• Develop an un-biased assessment of the opportunities and deficiencies of the system throughout the region.
• Facilitate the development of a consensus on the value of recommended solutions and generate support for their implementation.
• Advocate for the private and public resources to be directed to the entities responsible for implementation of the solution.
• Provide sustained support to the participating parties throughout the implementation process.

Accommodating Future Growth

Nation’sPort is preparing a regional logistics strategy. It will work with the Port Authority of NY/NJ to identify the scale and timing of improvements needed and to provide reliable information on:

• Cargo volume forecasts
• The types and capacities of cargo handling facilities that will be needed to accommodate volume growth
• The nature, location and timing of the required supporting infrastructure development
• New services needed by system users
• The cost and service competitiveness of the Port of New York/New Jersey
• Public efforts needed to accommodate growth and new services.

Nation’sPort seeks to serve as the forum in which goods movement industry stakeholders come together to:
• Address the region’s problems and opportunities holistically and systemically.
• Provide the necessary supply of labor and related skills.
• Provide an “expert network” offering expertise on specific issues.
• Interact with government representatives on planning, transportation, land use, environmental and labor issues.