Investing in Pennsylvania's Ports Drive the Economy, Provide Job Opportunities

​Recognizing that Pennsylvania's ports drive the economy, provide opportunity for jobs and a greater flow of goods, and improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians, Governor Wolf has made record investments in port infrastructure at Pennsylvania's three ports: 

PhilaPort 

PhilaPort supports more than 10,000 jobs generating $2 billion in economic impacts.  International imports include cars, cocoa, forest and paper products, fruit, produce, frozen meats, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, among others.  Funding for PhilaPort from Act 89 and the Governor over the last eight years totals $569 million for the following: 

• $30 million from PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF): 

• • Rail transportation study 
  • Inland port studies 
  • Strategic plans  
  • Construction projects
  • PA International Cargo Growth Incentive Program established to increase containers  

• $293 million from Governor Wolf to improve and rehabilitate existing infrastructure:  

• • Packer Avenue Marine Terminal  

• Purchase and commission three new super post-Panamex cranes  

• Improve the wharf structure to accommodate larger cranes 
• Re-energize two existing cranes with electricity to increase efficiency & reduce carbon footprint 
• Provide alternate power source to vessels docked in port (diesel to electric) 
• Double the container capacity by relocating warehouses off the dock  
• Construct two new warehouses 

• •  Tioga Marine Terminal (TMT) 

• Build a food-grade warehouse with rail access for paper products to reach their final destinations 

• • South Port Property  

• Develop 156 acres into a vehicle processing center  

• $246 million from Governor Wolf to expand the Port and its freight capacity: 

• • Build a temperature-controlled warehouse 
  • Build a new berth at the Southport Terminal 
  • Purchase land for Expansion 
  • Construct Warehouses  
  • Modify dock configurations to maximize container storage 

Port of Erie 

Because the Governor invested in PhilaPort, more Act 89 funding was available to Erie.  Importing windmill components, a new commodity to the Port, has drastically increased the total tonnage. Windmill components are temporarily stored at a terminal and then travel by truck to their final destinations. 

• $36 million from PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) 

• • Repaired 3 Major Seawalls and established direct lake access 
  • Rehabbed the 50-year-old Drydock at Donjon Shipbuilders & retained 250 employees with family sustaining wages  
  • Safety improvements to bike and pedestrian paths 
  • Expansion to support international imports of windmill components 

Pittsburgh Port Commission 

Inland waterways in 12 counties support 14,000-15,000 jobs, and the region benefits from about $4.5 billion in total economic impacts. 

• $10.7 million from PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) 

• • $7 million in operational support to Pittsburgh Port Commission 
  • $3.7 million for infrastructure improvements at privately-owned terminals within the inland waterways 

PHOTOS:

Cranes at Packer Avenue Marine Terminal 

Barge in Pittsburgh