They are installing larger cranes, building on-dock rail, and improving rail and truck grade separations. This will provide state and local authorities with the additional resources necessary to support one of the economic development community's most successful public-private partnership programs. Under current law this change will not become effective until 2007. Paying for maintenance and improvement of port infrastructure is a challenge. The health of our nation's ports depends on the strong and long-standing partnership between local public port authorities and the Federal government.
Navigation channels are our nation's highways to the international marketplace and the world.
We must continue to work together to strengthen the partnership between local public port authorities and the Federal government to ensure that the United States has the most efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible marine transportation system in the world. Local port authorities and industry provide funding for land infrastructure. Port authorities are also responsible for dredging berthing areas and access channels connecting port facilities to the Federal navigation channels, and providing required cost-sharing financing of dredging. Local, state, and Federal government funds are also used to support intermodal landside access to ports, some of which is paid through the Highway Trust Fund. Despite the significant local financial investment, over the years, the Federal government has slowly and continuously shifted its financial responsibilities for funding dredging to others.