Port of Miami improvements targeted

Port of Miami improvements targeted Port of Miami director Bill Johnson Wednesday outlined what he sees as a series of critically important improvements for the port if it is to remain competitive in the years ahead.
   In his annual state of the ports briefing at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts in Miami Wednesday, Johnson said he hopes to implement an initial $520 million port infrastructure improvement program over the next five years, which will need to be accompanied by separate improvements for landside port access and dredging work that will allow massive new containerships to call the port.
   The initial work on port infrastructure will include items from road improvements to better signs, lighting, fences, parking, and even improving appearances — replacing weeds with flowers, he explained.
   Johnson noted that port access is the primary issue for virtually all of the port's steamship line customers. While the longer-term port tunnel project is proceeding in the planning and financing stages, Johnson said there is a more urgent need to improve trucker access in the 'bubble' between the port and the Interstate highway system.
   He said port officials are working closely with city, county and state officials to improve access. That would include changes ranging from better-synchronized traffic lights to a new access ramp onto Interstate 95 from arterial corridors for port traffic.
   Johnson said he also hopes to improve port security while reducing overall security costs, primarily through the replacement of overtime costs paid to Miami police, replacing those officers with specially trained port security officers.