In a major initiative to boost economic growth and job opportunities, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell Wednesday announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, working closely with the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA), is seeking proposals from interested parties to design, operate and maintain "Southport," a major new marine terminal in South Philadelphia, along the Delaware River. The project will be a public-private partnership, expected to bring millions of dollars of investment to the region.
The Southport project will add a state-of-the-art marine terminal to the portfolio of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, strategically positioning the region to capitalize on steadily increasing cargo volumes. With an improvement underway in the nation's economy and concurrent growth in retail sales and distribution supply, the Port of Philadelphia's international trade volume is expected to grow substantially.
"Southport will allow the Port of Philadelphia to capture a greater share of waterborne commerce largely because of its size and access to rail service and major highways," Governor Rendell said. "In addition, because of the new cargo, Southport represents thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs that will have a positive economic impact on the region."
PRPA Chairman John H. Estey said: "History will show that we are at an extremely fortuitous time. Not only do we have our channel deepening project underway, but with this SFP we clearly demonstrate that Philadelphia has the premier site on the East Coast for new terminal development. Other parcels of this size, backed up by first-class rail and road infrastructure, simply do not exist on the eastern seaboard. We're very grateful for the continued commitment and strong support of Governor Rendell and Mayor Nutter in bringing this much-anticipated project to fruition."
The new Southport terminal demonstrates the commitment of Governor Rendell and the PRPA to enhancing the competitive position of the Port of Philadelphia. To accelerate the Southport project, Governor Rendell dedicated up to $25 million in capital funds on May 22, 2009. That investment has funded environmental studies, permitting, land acquisition, geotechnical work, site preparation, utility analysis, and site access work.
A developer for the Southport project will be selected pursuant to a public, competitive selection process administered by the state Department of General Services. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in an informational webinar on the Southport project, which will take place on May 20, 2010.
"This visionary concept will assure the future of the Port of Philadelphia for generations. This will be a meaningful private-public partnership that will assure Pennsylvania a major role in international trade and commerce," said Chairman Estey.
The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning in the port district. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users.