Port Delays Move To E. 55th Street

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Topics: Economy, Politics, Other
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The Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority says funding issues will delay its plan to move port operations to the new location east of downtown.

The Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority says funding issues will delay its plan to move port operations to a new location east of downtown.  Ideastream’s Bill Rice reports. 

Port Authority officials say federal funding they hoped would finance a move to a yet-to-be constructed site near East 55th Street has not panned out.  Now they’ll turn their efforts toward asking state and local government entities to sponsor the move, or possibly even taxpayers.  Board Chairman Steve Williams projects the new plan will delay construction of a new dike for about two years.

Williams:  “It’s a delay.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that the relocation won’t happen, but clearly in today’s meetings the discussion centered around what the risks that are associated with this option.”

Those risks include not securing funding in time to construct the dike at E. 55th. before space for dredge material from the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor runs out - also in about two years. 

Williams says the Board is committed to moving port operations to E. 55th Street, and he downplays concerns about a projected timeline of more than 20 years, saying it could start much sooner. 

Williams:  “Should things go well, and we’re able to work through this delay issue here, I think it’s reasonable to think that we have good chance where in the next seven years we could actually start looking at some opportunity to relocate some port operations.”

In other board business, a transition committee has been formed to conduct a search for a new Port Director after its previous director, Adam Wasserman, abruptly stepped down last week.