The draft of a new Port of Tacoma strategic plan calls for creation of a common user container terminal, more cost-competitive rail service, development of Tacoma as a strategic military port and attraction of more break bulk business to its terminals.
Those and other initiatives are designed to restart the port’s growth engine, which has been sputtering since the start of the recession more than three years ago.
The draft plan is the result of more than a year’s work by consultants, port commissioners and staff members.
A common user terminal would allow smaller customers that don’t want to commit to leasing an entire terminal themselves to share a port or privately-developed terminal. The common user concept would make more efficient use of the expensive assets needed at such a terminal because it would get more use.
A more competitive rail service plan would iron out kinks in the existing rail network connecting the port with inland points.
More break bulk business would diversify the port’s business to include more cargo not suitable for shipping containers.
Creation of a strategic military shipping point would make the port a key gateway for shipping and receiving military goods destined for overseas bases, for Joint Base Lewis-McChord and for military facilities without ready port access.
The port expects the final plan will emerge late this spring.
Until then, the public has the chance to comment on the draft document and suggest revisions or additions, said the port’s spokeswoman, Tara Mattina.
“We’re still very flexible about making adjustments to the plan,” she said.
Among other key points in the draft plan:
• Leverage partnerships with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and other economic development organizations to attract new business. The tribe owns a key waterfront tract along the Blair Waterway that could be developed as a major container terminal.
• Become a regional leader in the hunt for new funds to complete Washington 167. The freeway portion of that highway now ends in Puyallup. The state has acquired most of the land needed to complete it to I-5 and the port but lacks the funds to build it. Completing that missing link would greatly improve truck access to the port and relieve traffic on I-5.
• Develop long-range plans with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific and Tacoma Rail railroads to ensure a swift and economic rail route to Midwestern and Eastern markets. Tacoma and other West Coast ports face increasing competition with all-water routes to the East through an enlarged Panama Canal and via British Columbia.
• Create a long-term blueprint to improve the port’s principal waterway, the Blair, to handle the ever-larger generation of container ships.
• Maximize the use of existing terminals and facilities. Sell off nonperforming or noncritical port assets.
• Focus the port’s environmental cleanup efforts on land with development potential
John Gillie: 253-597-8663 john.gillie@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/business
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