🔒Rail could be key to boosting CT’s ports

Q&A talks to Evan H. Matthews, who was named the first-ever executive director of the newly formed Connecticut Port Authority in September.

Q: What are the three biggest opportunities to increase the economic impact of Connecticut's ports?

A: The biggest opportunity currently underway is the New Haven Navigation Channel deepening study, where the Port Authority is working with the city of New Haven, New Haven Port Authority, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the economic impact of increasing the depth of the channel to 40 feet. It is currently authorized for 35 feet. A deeper channel increases economies of scale and greater efficiency in New Haven, making Connecticut's largest port complex more competitive.

Another opportunity we are working on is greater intermodal connectivity. Containerized cargo moves in, out and through Connecticut by truck, creating congestion and lost productivity. We have several opportunities to build intermodal terminals or inland ports where Connecticut companies can move containers by rail. These terminals will reduce friction in the supply chain, lower transportation costs, and make Connecticut shippers more competitive in a global marketplace where $25 to $50 is a huge difference in freight costs.

Another great opportunity for economic growth is the expansion at Electric Boat in Groton and New London. We are working with partners throughout southeastern Connecticut on land-use planning and infrastructure projects needed to facilitate the expansion of submarine manufacturing.

Q: In a 2010 report, Connecticut's maritime industry was estimated to have accounted for $5 billion in business output. How has the industry fared in recent years? How big could it be in 10 years?

A: These are great questions, and we are working on economic impact studies to measure the size of the maritime economy. What we do know is that in 2015, our ports handled 11.4 million tons of cargo.

Q: Previously, you worked for the Quonset Development Corp. in North Kingstown, R.I., which oversees a business park and the Port of Davisville. You oversaw a significant expansion of the Port of Davisville. What did you accomplish and what lessons from that experience can help Connecticut?

A: Yes, in Davisville, we had a great relationship with our private-sector partnerships, which yielded significant cargo growth. And, I plan to build on these experiences here in Connecticut. Port authorities do not drive cargo growth alone. Ports are a complex of connected service providers, helping shippers and carriers move goods quickly and efficiently to the final destination. Port authorities facilitate this by investing in infrastructure, coordinating across different agencies, and providing technical assistance where needed to unlock new services or increase efficiencies across supply chains. We can also work with federal, state and local governments on policy and regulatory issues in ways that our private-sector partners cannot.

Q: There's been talk/speculation that the widening of the Panama Canal, which significantly increases its capacity, could help Connecticut. Is the state seeing any benefit and are there opportunities for the state to cash in on?

A: As I mentioned previously, the deepening of the New Haven channel is to help us benefit from the new Panama Canal. We are also focused on developing better intermodal connections to the larger container ports with the new class of large ships through new rail and barge feeder services. Any time we reduce cost, we generate savings to our shippers.

Q: What have you accomplished since taking the reins of the Port Authority?

A: Our biggest accomplishment so far has been approving a capital program of over $23 million in Dec. 2016. In our first submission to the state bond commission in January, we received $4.5 million for the State Pier Facility in New London. We are planning to begin planning and design work this July.

We also launched the Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program, where we invest in municipalities throughout Connecticut.