Port of Albany Lands $9.9MM for Rail, Maritime Upgrades
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
(Port of Albany Photograph)
New York’s Port of Albany has received a $9.907 million grant to upgrade its on-dock rail and wharf deck infrastructure to handle heavy cargo. The funding is part of the New York State Department of Transportation’s recently announced $111 million investment in 38 projects through the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program.
The Port of Albany on April 10 reported that it will use the grant for improvements that will “leverage additional heavy lift and project cargo handling capacity.” These improvements are the final phase of the Port’s Maritime Infrastructure Investment Project that includes more than $100 million in upgrades and construction completed or under way. “This ensures cargo and goods can keep moving through the Port, serving regional manufacturing companies and well as critical regional projects,” according to the Port of Albany. Recently completed projects in the maritime terminal include construction of a new 45,000 square-foot heavy capacity warehouse, reconstruction of 840LF of the wharf, construction of a new 60,000 square-foot warehouse and reconstruction of a 60,000 square-foot on-dock warehouse, full maritime terminal reconstruction, and adjacent service road upgrades, the Port said.
The Port of Albany is upstate New York’s largest public port/logistics hub and serves as a Port of Entry with on-site U.S. Customs office and bonded warehouse. Located 124 nautical miles north of the Battery in New York Harbor, it includes deep-water shipping access and approximately 450 acres of land on both sides of the Hudson River in three municipalities.
Albany Port Railroad has served the Port since 1975. It provides on-site industrial trackage services and moves heavy lift and other cargo throughout the Port. Owned and operated by CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), the railroad is near CPKC’s major classification yard at Kenwood Yards, CSX’s major classification yard at Selkirk, and Norfolk Southern’s intermodal facility.
“The Port of Albany is a vital transportation hub that plays a significant role in facilitating freight and maritime cargo needs in the Northeast,” Albany Port District Commission Chair Georgette Steffens said. “As part of the leadership team that has seen the results of many years of planning and investment in the Port’s infrastructure, we have been planning and building for this future. This Heavy Lift Wharf Deck and Rail Enhancement Project will help attract more and new business to the region, will support economic development and growth of industries in the area, and contribute to the overall prosperity of the Capital Region.”
“As the terminal operator at the Port of Albany, infrastructure upgrades to the on-dock rail and wharf deck systems will allow us to increase our cargo handling efficiency, bringing additional value to our customers and to our supply chain partners at the port,” said Sean Pierce, CEO of LOGISTEC. “We believe that enhancements like these are crucial for the port to maximize competitiveness and grow capacity to accommodate the demands of current and future industry needs, both locally and globally.”
Also receiving New York State Department of Transportation funding is the Port of Oswego, which will use its two grants totaling $4.693 million to boost rail capacity, improve rail safety, and support the state’s green energy and electric policies.
