VPA 2040 Master Plan Executive Summary - The Port of Virginia

Final Draft December 2008
From the Director
Virginia Port Authority
2040 MASTER PLAN
As Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority, I am pleased to
present the VPA 2040 Master Plan.
The mission of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is to leverage
opportunities from maritime commerce for the benefit of Virginia. The
Virginia Port Authority (VPA) supports many activities throughout
Virginia’s waterways with a primary focus on the current and future
needs of the state owned terminals. The state owned terminals provide
a gateway that handles much of Virginia’s global trade and provide
access to world markets.
The 2040 Master Plan provides a long range plan and vision for meeting future needs. The plan
is continually updated and focuses on four major areas:
1. Maintenance and Operations: Maintaining and operating the marine terminals in a
manner that maintains Virginia as a top tier east coast container port.
2. Capacity Improvements: Improving the capacity of the existing terminals with
infrastructure and equipment to handle continued growth which has averaged 8.12%
annually since 1978.
3. Craney Island Marine Terminal: Constructing this new state-of-the-art highly
automated terminal will anchor Virginia as the preferred gateway for international trade
on the U.S. east coast.
4. Distribution and Logistics: Exploiting opportunities and challenges with inland
transportation infrastructure, multimodal capabilities and distribution related
development that affect the efficient movement of international cargo.
VPA marine terminals are but one link in today’s complex global supply chain. Opportunities
and challenges from areas such as inland transportation and land development have policy
implications outside the purview of the VPA. VPA’s 2040 Master Plan is aligned with
VTrans2035, providing a common vision for international cargo movement and efficient road
and rail networks for Virginia. VTrans2035 is the umbrella under which VPA, VDOT and
DRPT partner to find opportunities to improve transportation systems to move people and goods.
As we move forward and continue to expand Virginia’s status as an international gateway, VPA
will continue to work with our sister agencies and partners including:
1. Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT),
2. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
3. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s)
4. Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC)
5. Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)
From the Director DIR-1