Port, Highway Groups to Cooperate to Boost Federal Spending on Port Facilities

The American Association of Port Authorities and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association will cooperate to increase awareness of the need to significantly boost federal investment in the nation’s ports and waterways infrastructure, they said after signing an agreement Oct. 24 during AAPA’s annual meeting in Mobile, Ala. Each group will participate in the other’s committee meetings and policy discussions, share technical best practices, exchange information through newsletters and reports, and jointly lobby Congress on pending legislation that impacts ports and waterways, they said. "Investing in freight-handling infrastructure is an essential, effective utilization of limited federal resources," said Kurt Nagle, president of AAPA. The ARTBA's new Ports & Waterways Council submitted written testimony in February 2012 to the House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Select Revenue Measures and Oversight calling for increased growth and investment in the nation’s Marine Transportation System. “With growing emphasis on the need to expand the nation’s freight system and calls to double the nation’s exports, the time is right for ARTBA and AAPA to ensure that one of the most vital links in America’s transportation network maintains a strong voice at the policy making table,” said Pierce Homer of Moffatt & Nichol, co-chair of ARTBA’s PWC.