Under
the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, the city of Rochester, New
York has requested planning assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
Buffalo District to conduct an economic and dredging analysis, to help the city
determine the benefits associated with making Rochester Harbor a tourist
destination for Great Lakes cruise ships.
The
PAS program is used to prepare plans to manage water and related land
resources. Under this program, states and nations can benefit from the Corps of
Engineers’ technical expertise in conducting studies which include water
quality studies, wetland evaluation studies, and harbor or port studies.
It
is also important to understand the authority does not lead to the development
of detailed designs or construction, but can provide technical recommendations
for the areas being investigated. More importantly, the PAS program fosters
cooperative relationships between the Corps of Engineers and states.
Recently
the Port of Rochester, Rochester, NY enlisted the support of the USACE Buffalo
District through the PAS program. The
program will provide a comprehensive economic analysis which will determine if
there are any regional economic benefits associated with upgrading existing facilities
to accept Great Lakes cruise ships. Further, the study will include an analysis
to determine if the Genesee River has adequate draft to accommodate the large cruise
ships, and determine the necessary infrastructure upgrades that would need to
be accomplished before the cruise ships could call the Port a destination.
“The
PAS authority is a great program for the city to tap the expertise of the Corps
of Engineers to assist in providing unbiased documentation and recommendations
that will set the stage for future growth for the city of Rochester,” says
Laura Ortiz, Buffalo District certified floodplain manager.
These
Great Lakes cruise ships currently offer 10-day trips between Chicago and
Montreal with stops in Windsor-Detroit, Mackinac Island, and Sault Ste. Marie,
among other destinations. Cruisers are exposed to beautiful scenery, abundant
wildlife viewing, and thriving Great Lakes communities to explore.
The
Port of Rochester, located at the confluence of the Genesee River and Lake
Ontario, offers diverse attractions, such as fishing, boating, and swimming
beaches like Ontario Beach Park. Often you can see people enjoying walks along
the Charlotte Pier, which is part of the USACEs navigation system.
Currently,
a Memorandum of Agreement is in route to be signed between the USACE Buffalo
District and the city of Rochester. Once signed, this MOA will lead to the
development of detailed economic and dredging studies, results of which will
provide valuable information to the city.
The
cost of the PAS study will be shared 50% federal and 50% non-federal, and once funding
is in place, it is anticipated that the study will begin in late spring 2016
and will take approximately six months to complete.
This
partnership between the USACE Buffalo District and the city of Rochester will
provide the city with updated economic information, which the city can use to
make risk-informed decisions about future economic development of the Port of
Rochester and the Genesee River area.
For
more information regarding the PAS program, contact Laura Ortiz, laura.v.ortiz@usace.army.mil.