NJDOT awards $1.7 million
to South Jersey Port Corporation

Governor Christie Whitman and Transportation Commissioner John J. Haley, Jr. today announced the award of 3 grants totaling $1.7 million to the South Jersey Port Corporation for improvements to the Beckett Street and Broadway Terminals and the Conrail Branch Line in Camden.

"Keeping our ports economically viable is one of our key transportation priorities," said Governor Christie Whitman. "The grants will create 300 new jobs for Camden and lay the groundwork for a more efficient operation of the South Jersey Port and enhance its ability to compete for Midwestern cargoes."

"Combined with private sector contributions, these grants total $2.4 million and will be used to correct rail track safety and geometric problems," Commissioner Haley said. "For too long these deficiencies have resulted in derailments and lost productivity. That is going to change."

"The grants will permit the latest generation of rail cars to access these facilities, thereby enhancing the Port’s ability to handle cargoes," the Commissioner said. "The projects will increase steel imports by 500,000 tons per year, plywood imports by 125,000 tons and rail traffic by 4,000 carloads."

The grants are funded by the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, which provides funding for a variety of transportation capital investments.