AAPA Predicts $46 Billion in U.S. Port Spending Through 2016

U.S. seaports and their private-sector partners plan to invest $46 billion over the next five years in capital improvements to their marine operations and other port properties, said a recent survey initiated by the American Association of Port Authorities. Meanwhile, it said the intermodal links such as roads, bridges, tunnels and federal navigation channels to access the ports get scant attention by state and federal agencies, resulting in traffic bottlenecks. AAPA said it continues to advocate for a national freight infrastructure strategy and for the U.S. Congress to quickly pass a reauthorized multi-year transportation bill that targets federal dollars toward economically strategic freight transportation infrastructure of national and regional significance. Planned capital investments by ports for the 2012-2016 period, by region, include: North Atlantic, $3.3 billion. South Atlantic, $4.3 billion. Gulf, $22.1 billion. Great Lakes, $360 million. North Pacific, $7.7 billion.