In our last post, we talked about Canadian ports expanding their marine terminals in an effort to capture the jobs being lost by Puget Sound ports due to a lack of transportation investments.

Now Florida wants a cut of the action.

In a letter published in the industry trade magazine American Shipper, the CEO of Port Tampa Bay and the Chair of the Florida Senate Transportation Committee talk about the strategic investments being made in their state to win economic growth and jobs for their constituents.

Here are some important highlights:

  • "The importance of maintaining and improving infrastructure cannot be overstated. That's because when cargo movement is delayed, redirected or seriously impeded, critical shipping deadlines are missed, orders get canceled, the cost of goods goes up, companies lose sales, businesses downsize, and America's international competitiveness sinks ... "

  • "Ports, along with their private-sector partners, are spending more than $9 billion annually to build and maintain a world-class maritime transportation system. These investments support U.S. businesses and jobs, our global competitiveness and our entire economy. Yet, ports are neither responsible for, nor have the resources to, make many of the most necessary transportation infrastructure investments, particularly the connecting links just outside the port's jurisdiction. We look to our local, state and federal government partners to improve these links, the final pieces in the transportation infrastructure puzzle ... "

  • "As America recovers from the worst economic recession in most our lifetimes, cargo volumes will continue to grow. Fortunately for us in Florida, the state has established a model approach toward freight infrastructure investment. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature ... have had the vision to make unprecedented investments in transportation infrastructure during the past four years, underscoring the nexus between such investments and Florida's growing international trade."

Wouldn't it be great if the CEOs of our ports—and private sector businesses—could write a similar letter to their customers?

Without a statewide transportation funding package that includes projects like SR 167, unfortunately, that can't happen.