News Release
FOR RELEASE - March 16, 2007
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-706-4714

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

AAPA to Testify on Goods Movement Challenges at National Surface Transportation Commission Meeting

Stressing port industry concerns over the growing volume of freight moving over America’s already congested transportation system, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jean Godwin will go before the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission on Monday morning (March 19) to urge Commission members to recognize the importance of efficient port access when making recommendations to Congress to address future surface transportation needs.

“Public port authorities are dependent on the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure for the landside movement of goods and military cargo and the facilitation of cruise passengers,” Ms. Godwin will testify.  “Faced with unprecedented projected growth in international trade, a robust cruise industry and the needs of the U.S. military, public port authorities will become increasingly dependent on the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure and policies that help facilitate the movement of people and goods to and through U.S. ports and harbors.”

In her oral presentation and written remarks, Ms. Godwin will outline the freight infrastructure needs that U.S. public ports have now and will have in the future to guard against gridlock in the goods movement network. These include improved access roads to freight terminals (also known as intermodal connectors), promoting projects of regional and national significance, appointing state freight coordinators, rail investment tax credits, new project financing methods, water transportation options (to reduce the highway cargo volumes), and more navigation dredging projects to improve access to ports by today’s large, modern ships.

WHO:            American Association of Port Authorities Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jean Godwin

WHAT:          Testifying to National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, urging recognition of efficient seaport access for freight

WHEN:          Monday, March 19, 2007, 10:45 a.m.

WHERE:        Room 2167, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

WHY:            To improve goods movement to and through America’s deep-draft ports

ADD’L:          The full text of Ms. Godwin’s testimony is available on-line at http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/PDFs/testimony%5Fnatsurftrsppolicy%5F3%2D19%2D2007.pdf.