Waterfronts and ports in particular, continue to gain attention in Washington, where they are viewed as increasingly integral to the economic development and sustainability of their surrounding communities. A new bill, “The Waterfront of Tomorrow Act,” was announced on July 30th by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY). While the bill’s focus is to help protect New York City from future floods, the bill will need the support of port cities across the nation and has been designed to have nationwide appeal.
If passed, the bill would incorporate ports and harbors into the National Freight Policy provisions included in MAP-21; it would establish a state and local grant program within the Economic Development Administration to establish environmentally sustainable waterfront areas; and it would allow the Environmental Protrection Agency and the U.S. Maritime Administration to jointly establish a “Green Port” designation, which would be accompanied by federal grant funding and technical assistance.
Re-framing waterfronts as tomorrow’s mainstreets is what this bill is all about. The Congresswoman is initially looking at seeking support from California and New Jersey members to build the momentum needed to gain nationwide support. If your community has a waterfront, this is a bill to watch.
Comments