HARBOR FREIGHT PROGRAM AT BOROUGH HALL HEARING
BP ADAMS TESTIFIES ON CROSS HARBOR FREIGHT PROGRAM AT BOROUGH HALL HEARING
BROOKLYN, NY, February 3, 2015: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams submitted testimony to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at a public hearing they held at Brooklyn Borough Hall regarding the Tier I Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Cross Harbor Freight Program; the testimony was delivered by Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna on his behalf. The project outlines ten potential projects to transport freight across the region, including the potential construction of a rail tunnel beneath the New York Harbor or the expansion of current barge crossings. Borough President Adams, who first expressed his support for growing Brooklyn’s port facilities in his inauguration address, underscored his backing of the greater use of rail freight in his testimony.
“The Port Authority is faced with an enormous challenge to address the 21st century distribution needs of freight that flows into our harbors and dock at our shores,” wrote Borough President Adams. “Several of the proposals being outlined in the Cross Harbor Freight program, particularly rail tunnel options, would strengthen the regional freight network, reduce truck traffic and vehicle miles travelled, improve air quality, and provide economic benefits for the entire region. It will also expand facilities for the more cost-effective delivery of goods to Brooklyn as well as – and perhaps more importantly – the exporting of Brooklyn-made products to the rest of the country. Additionally, improving cross-harbor freight movement will increase system resiliency, safety and security to protect our infrastructure in an era of increasing concerns over climate change and terrorism.”
Borough President Adams also expressed that all of the proposals under consideration need to be “thoroughly vetted” and that impacted communities must have involvement in all aspects of the planning stages of the program. He shared that he and his office will closely monitor this process, as part of their larger effort to modernize Brooklyn’s freight network.
