Pennsylvania DOT, Philadelphia port authority begin intermodal incentive program

In an effort to increase cargo volumes at the Port of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) announced the start of a new intermodal incentive program for ocean carriers.

The Intermodal Cargo Growth Incentive Program will reward ocean carriers using the port with a $25 incentive for each container moved that exceeds previously-reported container levels. PennDOT's Multimodal Transportation Fund will administer the incentives.

"This new intermodal incentive program is an effective tool to grow our container business, and a fair one, as it rewards both our current customers as well as new carriers who have been considering using the Port of Philadelphia," said PRPA Executive Director James McDermott Jr. in a press release. "It’s a solid investment on the part of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as increased container business brings so many economic benefits to our region."

PennDOT officials estimate that the new program will attract at least 200,000 new container shipments annually over the next five years. The port is served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.