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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) international cargo volume reached a record level in 2006. Container volume totaled more than 5 million 20-foot equivalent units, a 6.4 percent increase compared with 2005.

The total value of all cargo handled at the port jumped to an all-time-high $149 billion, up 13 percent compared with the previous year. PANYNJ’s total general cargo imports rose 9.3 percent to 22.1 million metric tons, and general cargo exports increased 14.8 percent to 9 million metric tons.

ExpressRail, the port authority’s on-dock rail terminals in New Jersey, also set an annual record by handling 338,882 containers, up 11.8 percent compared with 2005.

And PANYNJ expects to handle record volume in coming years. The port authority recently approved a 10-year, $2 billion capital plan to meet projected cargo demand. The plan includes funds for a 50-foot harbor deepening project, ExpressRail on-dock facilities, an Intelligent Transportation System and inland access improvements.

This month, PANYNJ completed a $40 million project under which the authority installed new support track to double ExpressRail Port Newark’s annual capacity to more than 100,000 containers, and built a 9,000-foot arrival and departure track. Construction recently began on a $51 million project that calls for building a second lead track into ExpressRail Elizabeth, which will enable Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation trains to arrive and depart simultaneously into Elizabeth. Once the ExpressRail system is expanded, PANYNJ will be able to handle 1.3 million containers annually.