The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Transportation recently approved a $44 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant for Port Newark.
The grant will be applied toward a $176 million modernization project to update the marine terminal’s road network.
The Port Street Corridor Improvement Project aims to eliminate substandard conditions by creating a safer northern access point to the port. Approximately 3,600 vehicles per peak hour use the existing entrance, 40 percent of which are trucks serving the port complex. There were 401 accidents in the area from 2005 to 2018, most from the configuration of the existing roadway and ramp infrastructure.
During its first full year, the improvements are expected to eliminate more than 700,000 hours of travel time for vehicles accessing the entrance and reduced vehicular accidents and fatalities by 37 percent.
The project is expected to create $171 million in regional economic activity, $25 million in direct wages, and 260 additional direct jobs.
The Port Newark is a 930-acre complex consisting of roadways; container, bulk, and auto terminals; and warehouses and wharves. It is one of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s six marine terminals.
New Jersey’s congressional delegation, local and state elected officials, and key partners supported the Port Authority’s grant application.