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Barging In
State commission okays Elm City port authority
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Business New Haven
4/29/2002
By: BNH
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New Haven may have gained a leg up in its battle with Bridgeport to host a pilot feeder barge program. On April 1, the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the establishment of a New Haven port authority.
The test program will determine the effectiveness of shifting freight trailers off of I-95 to barges to reduce highway traffic. Bridgeport officials previously have stressed that their port authority made it the optimal trial site.
New Haven city officials say they aim to boost activity at the port, and that having a port authority will aid them in implementing a successful feeder barge program. New Haven is the nation's largest port without a port authority.
The bill would establish a port authority similar to the two other Connecticut port authorities in Bridgeport and New London. The pilot program of the feeder barge service could begin as early as September.
Port construction for the trial run is expected to cost $1.5 million, primarily for purchasing dock equipment and industrial cranes. The state's Transportation Strategy Board allocated $7 million last year for the entire project.
If the pilot program proves successful, both Bridgeport and New Haven will eventually have feeder barge service, regardless of which city is selected initially. The state hopes to increase water traffic overall.
“We're going to look at New Haven and New London and Bridgeport in terms of commercial uses and also commuter uses,” said Oz Griebel, chairman of the Transportation Strategy Board.
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