THE American Association of Port Authorities (PA) in its State of Freight III report says US ports need US$20 billion for multimodal rail access in the next 10 years.
The need is pressing, said the PA, because of the growing population and the increasing volume of goods that need to be moved, reported Supply Chain Dive, of Washington, DC.
According to an association survey, improved and expanded rail access is a priority for ports, with more than 30 per cent reporting that they have identified critical $50 million-plus rail projects.
Some 77 per cent of ports are planning on-dock, near-dock or other rail access projects in the next decade, as rail provides an 'efficient and speedy method of moving cargo out of congested areas to distribution centres', the report said.
But there are obstacles. One hurdle is that out of $11 billion in FAST Act federal freight funding, only $1.1 billion was allocated to multimodal projects.
In addition, ports and their private industry partners plan to invest $155 billion into port infrastructure during the next five years, although the relevant government entities, in many cases, have not invested in the necessary connections 'outside the gates.'
The association called on the federal government to help eliminate funding and access barriers.
After the expansion of the Panama Canal, bigger ships can call at American ports a phenomenon that drives harbour expansion.
The Port of Miami was the first US port to be able to handle full loads arriving in neopanamaxes after a $1.3 billion overhaul of its facilities.
This included the installation of new cranes, dredging shipping channels to more than 50 feet deep and the completion of rail projects that now connect the port to nearby rail yards.
Long Beach's $4.5 billion capital plan includes an on-dock rail facility that will allow cargo to be loaded directly onto trains located at marine terminals.
The need is pressing, said the PA, because of the growing population and the increasing volume of goods that need to be moved, reported Supply Chain Dive, of Washington, DC.
According to an association survey, improved and expanded rail access is a priority for ports, with more than 30 per cent reporting that they have identified critical $50 million-plus rail projects.
Some 77 per cent of ports are planning on-dock, near-dock or other rail access projects in the next decade, as rail provides an 'efficient and speedy method of moving cargo out of congested areas to distribution centres', the report said.
But there are obstacles. One hurdle is that out of $11 billion in FAST Act federal freight funding, only $1.1 billion was allocated to multimodal projects.
In addition, ports and their private industry partners plan to invest $155 billion into port infrastructure during the next five years, although the relevant government entities, in many cases, have not invested in the necessary connections 'outside the gates.'
The association called on the federal government to help eliminate funding and access barriers.
After the expansion of the Panama Canal, bigger ships can call at American ports a phenomenon that drives harbour expansion.
The Port of Miami was the first US port to be able to handle full loads arriving in neopanamaxes after a $1.3 billion overhaul of its facilities.
This included the installation of new cranes, dredging shipping channels to more than 50 feet deep and the completion of rail projects that now connect the port to nearby rail yards.
Long Beach's $4.5 billion capital plan includes an on-dock rail facility that will allow cargo to be loaded directly onto trains located at marine terminals.