Posted on October 7, 2024
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, the owner of Philadelphia’s seaport facilities, is considering buying 150 acres on the site of the old Philadelphia Navy Base from Norfolk Southern Corporation, writes Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The state agency sees the acquisition as a “generational opportunity” that could result in the creation of 15,000 jobs over the coming years. If the plan goes ahead it could more than double the number of jobs currently supported by the port.
The Mustin Yard, “represents the last available land at a unique nexus of deepwater, highway, and rail access,” said Ryan Mulvey, the agency’s director of government and public affairs.
To be able to close the deal, PhilaPort requires a funding commitment from the state, Mulvey told state lawmakers in last week’s testimony before the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee.
Buying the site would allow the port to significantly increase its capacity to handle automobiles and containers. The agency reported handling 743,000 container units in 2023, which is an 80 percent increase over 2016 levels. According to port officials, container volume is projected to double to around 1.5 million units by 2040.
