Jacksonville Port Authority

Last updated
Jacksonville Port Authority
AbbreviationJPA, JAXPORT
Formation1963
Type agency
PurposeMaintain, market & manage the public port facilities in Jacksonville
Headquarters Jacksonville, Florida
Location
  • 2831 Talleyrand Avenue
Region served
Duval County, Florida
CEO
Eric Green
Main organ
JAXPORT Magazine
Budget
$69 million [1]
Staff
171 [1]
Volunteers
7
Website www.jaxport.com

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA) also known by its brand name, JAXPORT, is the independent government agency in Jacksonville, Florida, that owns and operates much of the seaport system at the Port of Jacksonville.

Contents

History

The Jacksonville Port Authority replaced the city's Department of Docks and Terminals [2] and was created in 1963 by Florida's Legislature to progress, preserve, and promote the city's port facilities. [3]

The Port Authority was chartered by the state, and intended to be a government entity that would operate like a business; however, it received 1.5 mils of property tax authority that generated nearly half a million dollars during 1963 (equivalent to $30 million in 2003). [2] Jacksonville airports were under the control of the Port Authority since its inception, but in May 2001, the Florida State Legislature approved the restructuring of the Jacksonville Port Authority into two separate entities (City J-Bill-1104); the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) and the Jacksonville Seaport Authority effective October 1, 2001. [4] In 2003, the act was amended to reinstate the name Jacksonville Port Authority instead of Seaport. [5]

Function

Jacksonville’s port is one of the largest commercial cargo ports on the Atlantic Coast. [6] JAXPORT controls docks and wharfs, cranes, a passenger cruise terminal, warehouses, paved open storage areas, and road connections to the public highway system. JPA maintains these facilities and manages their overall use. As of October 2011, only JAXPORT security officers and off-duty members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are involved in handling calls for service on property owned by JAXPORT. [7]

Governance

The JPA is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. The Mayor of Jacksonville appoints four Board members, and the Florida Governor appoints three members. Each member serves a four-year, unpaid term. From its membership, the Board elects its own Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer for one-year terms. [8]

Funding

Tax dollars are not used to fund JAXPORT's operating expenses. Private companies lease space and equipment at the port, and that revenue is used to fund port operations. In 2010 JAXPORT recorded $50.6 million in operating revenues, and $32 million in operating expenses. [9] The authority does receive state and federal grants to pay for construction (capital) and security projects. JAXPORT itself has no authority to assess taxes. [10]

Economic impact

Due to the local maritime industry Jacksonville's maritime industry supports more than 65,000 employees. These include private sector jobs such as longshoremen, crane operators, truck drivers, warehouse workers, and others working in industries which rely on the port. [11]

Initiatives

Seaport services and facilities

Cargo operations

Every year, imported and exported goods are shipped from more than 100 countries through the Jacksonville port. In this harbor, the Jacksonville Port Authority owns the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal and three cargo terminals: the Blount Island Marine Terminal, Talleyrand Marine Terminal and Dames Point Marine Terminal.

Cruise operations

Carnival Cruise Lines utilizes the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal to offer year-round service on the Carnival Ecstasy to Key West and the Bahamas. [13] The authority intends to relocate the terminal. [14]

Ferry service

The St. Johns River Ferry (also known as the Mayport Ferry) has provided service across the 9/10 mile between Mayport and Fort George Island since the 1874. [15] The Florida Department of Transportation had always been responsible for the ferry, but its funding was vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist for the 2007-2008 budget. The City of Jacksonville assumed the responsibility in 2007, and spent $1 million more than the income from fares. After Mayor John Peyton announced that there was no money available in the 2008 budget, JAXPORT took over operation of the ferry and lost half a million dollars each year, but used port revenue, not tax money, to underwrite the expense. [16] The ferry service operator is Hornblower Marine Services. In 2012 JAXPORT announced that it would no longer be responsible for the ferry. In response, the city commission created the new St. Johns River Ferry Commission. JAXPORT agreed to contribute $200,000 toward operations, the city of Jacksonville kicked in $200,000 with the state DOT paying $250,000. [17]

Private facilities

JAXPORT facilities do not handle all the cargo moving over the St. Johns River. In fact, more than 20 maritime facilities in Jacksonville's harbor are owned and operated by other entities. These facilities include private dry docks, petroleum terminals, and military bases. The JPA does not operate or manage private boat marinas, water taxis, bridges, or the Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in the United States Virgin Islands</span>

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is the only place under United States jurisdiction where the rule of the road is to drive on the left. However, virtually all passenger vehicles are left hand drive due to imports of U.S. vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Everglades</span> Seaport in Broward County, Florida

Port Everglades is a seaport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, located in Broward County. Port Everglades is one of South Florida's foremost economic engines, as it is the gateway for both international trade and cruise vacations. In 2022, Port Everglades was ranked the third-busiest cruise homeport, accommodating more than 1.72 million passengers. Port Everglades' cargo sector has been climbed up the rankings based on its operational performance among 348 seaports in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PortMiami</span> Port in United States

The Port of Miami, styled as PortMiami and formally known as the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, is a major seaport located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in Miami, Florida. It is the largest passenger port in the world and one of the largest cargo ports in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts Port Authority</span>

Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is an American port authority in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It owns and operates three airports, Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport, and public terminals in the Port of Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of San Juan</span> Seaport facility in Puerto Rico

The Port of San Juan is a seaport facility located in the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Boston</span> Seaport district in Boston, Massachusetts

The Port of Boston is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston. It is the largest port in Massachusetts and one of the principal ports on the East Coast of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayport Ferry</span> Automobile ferry in Jacksonville, Florida, US

The Saint Johns River Ferry, also known as the Mayport Ferry, is an automobile ferry between Mayport and Fort George Island, two areas within Jacksonville, Florida. The 0.9 miles (1.4 km) voyage crosses the Saint Johns River about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) inland of the river's mouth and travels in an east-west direction for approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) on State Road A1A. It departs every half-hour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of New Orleans</span> Port in United States

The Port of New Orleans is a significant transport hub located in Louisiana, United States. It serves as an embarkation point for cruise passengers and Louisiana’s sole international container port.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Canaveral</span> Port in Florida, United States

Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo, and naval port in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The port has the busiest cruise terminals in the world. In 2022, the port had over 4 million passengers passing through it during the fiscal year. Additionally, over 5.4 million tonnes of bulk cargo moves through each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacksonville metropolitan area, Florida</span> Metropolitan statistical area in the United States

The Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, also called the First Coast, Metro Jacksonville, or Northeast Florida, is the metropolitan area centered on the principal city of Jacksonville, Florida and including the First Coast of North Florida. As of the 2020 United States census, the total population was 1,605,848. The Jacksonville–St. Marys–Palatka, FL–GA Combined Statistical Area (CSA) had a population of 1,733,937 in 2020 and was the 34th largest CSA in the United States. The Jacksonville metropolitan area is the 40th largest in the country and the fourth largest in the State of Florida, behind the Miami, Tampa, and Orlando metropolitan areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Mobile</span> Sea port in Alabama

The Port of Mobile is a deep-water port in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It is the only deep-water port in Alabama. It was ranked by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as the 9th largest port by tonnage in the nation during 2014, with a trade volume of 64.3 million tons. This ranking had increased from 12th largest during 2010, with a trade volume of 55,713,273 tons, an increase of 19.1%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of New York and New Jersey</span> Port in New York and New Jersey, United States

The Port of New York and New Jersey is the port district of the New York-Newark metropolitan area, encompassing the region within approximately a 25-mile (40 km) radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Dover</span> Cross-channel port situated in Dover, Kent, south-east England

The Port of Dover is a cross-channel ferry, cruise terminal, maritime cargo and marina facility situated in Dover, Kent, south-east England. It is the nearest English port to France, at just 34 kilometres (21 mi) away, and is one of the world's busiest maritime passenger ports, with 11.7 million passengers, 2.6 million lorries, 2.2 million cars and motorcycles and 80,000 coaches passing through it in 2017, and with an annual turnover of £58.5 million a year. This contrasts with the nearby Channel Tunnel, the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and the European mainland, which now handles an estimated 20 million passengers and 1.6 million trucks per year.

The JAXPORT Cruise Terminal is a 63,000 sq ft (5,900 m2) "temporary" cruise ship terminal in Jacksonville, Florida. The facility located at the northwest corner of the Dames Point Marine Terminal, beside the Dames Point Bridge. It was completed in six months during 2003 and is a facility at the Port of Jacksonville, administered by the Jacksonville Port Authority. The baggage handling area is 28,000 sq ft (2,600 m2); and a passenger embarkation section has 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2). Vehicle access to the site is via Hecksher Drive and there is paved parking for about 600 cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Jacksonville</span> Port in United States

The Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) is an international trade seaport on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. JAXPORT is the largest port by volume in Florida, and the 14th largest container port in the United States. It carries about 18 million short tons of cargo each year and has an annual economic impact of over $31 billion, including 138,500 jobs across the state of Florida related to cargo moving through the port. It handled 1,338,000 containers, and is the second largest handler of vehicles in the United States with 696,500 in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of San Diego</span> Public-benefit corporation

The Port of San Diego is a seaport in San Diego, California. It is located on San Diego Bay in southwestern San Diego County, California, and is a self-supporting district established in 1962 by an act of the California State Legislature. In addition to port activities, the Port District controls San Diego Bay and owns and manages the Bay's immediate waterfront under the state's Tidelands Trust.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) is the independent government agency that owns and operates the four airports of Jacksonville, Florida, US. It was established in 2001 after being branched off of the Jacksonville Port Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blount Island</span> Island on the St Johns River, Florida

Blount Island is an island of approximately 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, nine nautical miles (16.7 km) west of the Atlantic Ocean. One of three public cargo facilities at the Port of Jacksonville is located there, and it is also the site of the United States Marine Corps Blount Island Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Jacksonville, Florida</span> Overview of transportation in Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville transportation network includes ground, air, and sea options for passenger and freight transit. The Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) operates the Port of Jacksonville, which includes container shipping facilities at Blount Island Marine Terminal, the Talleyrand Marine Terminal and the Dames Point Marine Terminal. Jacksonville Aviation Authority managers Jacksonville International Airport in Northside, as well as several smaller airports. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates bus, people mover, and park-n-ride services throughout the city and region. A major bus terminal at the intermodal Rosa Parks Transit Station serves as JTA's main transit hub. Various intercity bus companies terminate near Central Station. Amtrak operates passenger rail service to and from major cities throughout North America. The city is bisected by major highways, I-95 and I-10, I-295 creates a full beltway around the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northside (Jacksonville)</span> Region of Jacksonville, Florida, US

The Northside is a large region of Jacksonville, Florida, and is generally understood as a counterpart to the city's other large regions, the Urban Core, Arlington, Southside, Westside, and the Beaches. The expansive area consists of historic communities, cultural landmarks, protected ecosystems and vital transportation and logistics facilities, all fundamental to the history and development of Jacksonville.

References

  1. 1 2 "Jacksonville Port Authority 2020-2021 Budget" (PDF). Jaxport.com. Jacksonville Port Authority. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Rinaman, James C. (July 2003). "CREATION OF JACKSONVILLE'S CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT" (DOC). Jacksonville Historical Society.
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090505191848/http://www.jaxport.com/about/history/history.html. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2010.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ Archived December 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Archived December 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "NORTH AMERICA CONTAINER TRAFFIC 2007" (PDF). American Association of Port Authorities. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  7. ↑ "Seaport Security Unit". www.coj.net. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  8. ↑ "About JAXPORT - Corporate Info - Board of Directors - The Jacksonville Port Authority". Jaxport. 2011-08-23. Archived from the original on 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  9. ↑ "About JAXPORT - Corporate Info - JAXPORT Financials - The Jacksonville Port Authority". Jaxport. 2011-08-23. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  10. ↑ "Jaxport timeline: 1961-1999". Jacksonville Port Authority. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "About JAXPORT - Overview - Economic Impact - The Jacksonville Port Authority". Jaxport. 2011-08-23. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  12. ↑ Gibbons, Timothy (May 23, 2022). "After more than decade of work, Jaxport officially has deeper shipping channel". Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Cruise Deals, Discount Cruises, and Cruise Vacations – Carnival Cruise Lines". Carnival.com. 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  14. ↑ Bauerlein, David. "Hanjin cargo terminal delayed up to two years at JaxPort". jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  15. ↑ Manwell, Frank: "Steamboat Bill, 2007" Encyclopædia Britannica, S. E. AND GULF PORTS
  16. ↑ Dixon, Drew: "Mayport ferry ridership down, some worried service could go away" Florida Times-Union, July 1, 2009
  17. ↑ Bauerlein, David (June 28, 2012). "JaxPort board approves $200,000 to support Mayport ferry, if others pay the rest". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.